Creating a Standardised Teaching and Learning Framework for Social Work Field Placements

Abstract

Mapping and evaluating a student's progress on placement is a core element of social work education but there has been scant attention to indicate how to effectively create and assess student learning and performance. This paper outlines a project undertaken by the Combined Schools of Social Work to develop a common learning and assessment tool that is being used by all social work schools in Victoria. The paper describes how the Common Assessment Tool (CAT) was developed, drawing on the Australian Association of Social Work Practice Standards, leading to seven key learning areas that form the basis of the assessment of a student's readiness for practice. An evaluation of the usefulness of the CAT was completed by field educators, liaison staff, and students, which confirmed that the CAT was a useful framework for evaluating students' learning goals. The feedback also identified a number of problematic features that were addressed in a revised CAT and rating scale.

如何定位并评估一个学生的实习进度，是社会工作教育的核心要素。但很少有人考虑过该如何有效地营造并评估学生的学习和表现。本文简要介绍了社会工作混合学校搞出的一套、正由维多利亚全省社工学校使用的学习评估工具。这套工具依托了澳大利亚社工实践标准协会的资源，囊括了七个关键的、构成评估一个学生实践准备的学习领域。田野教育者、联络人员以及学生一起对该套工具的效用做了评估。从评估结果看，该工具是一个评估学生学习目标的有益框架。这些反馈也指出了一系列问题，这些问题在该工具及评定量表的修订版中已得到解决。

Keywords:

• Field Education Placements
• Field Education
• Assessment

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of Jane Wexler, Project Worker.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Lyra Taylor Fund (AASW) Victorian Branch.

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Lyra Taylor Fund (AASW) Victorian Branch.