What tools facilitate learning on placement? Findings of a social work student-to-student research study

ABSTRACT

Social work fieldwork placements are recognized as a core element of professional training. This article analyses the experiences of students who have completed a social work placement, examining tools that facilitated learning on placement. The research utilized an innovative methodology that enabled first-year students to design an online survey which they administered to second-year students. Using this approach students gained research experience, and also an insight into what assisted learning on placement. This two-phase cross-sectional research surveyed a 2014/15 cohort of postgraduate social work (MSW) students. This article focuses on students’ perceptions of the tools which assisted learning on placement. The article explores student-driven tools such as self-reflection, writing case notes and critiquing one’s own work. Interaction with the practice teacher, supervision and feedback were other tools discussed by the students as well as formal inputs such as induction, training and safety instructions. An interesting finding was that whilst students recognized the importance of self-directed learning, many did not engage in it routinely. Moreover, self-directed learning was, at best, weakly correlated with perceived learning and satisfaction with the placement. In fact, learning and satisfaction were primarily vested in the practice teachers and other external contributors even over and above casework.

KEYWORDS:

• Practice placement
• practice learning
• social work
• student experiences
• autonomous learning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elaine Wilson

Elaine Wilson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin where she is Co-Director of the Professional Masters of Social work and Director of Professional Practice. Her research interests include social work education and adult learning as well as the psycho-social needs of people with cancer and the social construction of illness.

Niamh Flanagan

Niamh Flanagan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University. Her research interests include social work research and education, in particular the role of educational technology, information behaviour and the evidence-base of policy and practice.