Field Directors

Hello all,

I'm fairly new to my Field Director role and have heard about 'learning plans' for employment-based field placements.  My perception is that a learning plan will be an agreement above and beyond the learning contract that outlines how the field practicum activities will differ from the employment activities (as one key component).

Does anyone have a learning plan they are willing to share?  I have some ideas and will appreciate the group's expertise.

Thank you,

Sarah

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Sarah Meisinger
Director of Field Education
St. Cloud State University
320-308-3141
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We use the terms "learning plan" and "learning contract" interchangeably. 

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Lisa Zimmer
Director of Field Education/Assoc. Professor
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati OH
513-556-4626
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Hi Sarah:

Attached please find our learning plan, which highlights the competencies required by CSWE, the professional behaviors that accompany those competencies, the agency activities that allows students to demonstrate those competencies and professional behaviors and the evaluation that the agency will utilize to determine the student has met the competencies.  The learning plan is a detailed outline of how the student will grow professionally at the agency and what opportunities will be provided in order for them to move from being an academic to a practitioner.  It can be used as a legal document by students, if they feel they had not received the effective training that the school promotes they provide, so it needs to be detailed.  Here is our learning plan. 

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Sibyl R. Beaulieu, DSW, MSW, LMSW
Associate Professor
and Director of Field Education
SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES 
The Social Work Department @ UMass Global
T 951.413.2914 
sbeaulie@umassglobal.edu 
Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers
Preferred address by students: 
Dr. Beaulieu, Prof. Sibyl, Prof. Beaulieu
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Thank you so much, Dr. Beaulieu.  The document is very helpful!!

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Sarah Meisinger
Director of Field Education
St. Cloud State University
320-308-3141
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Original Message:
Sent: Oct 10, 2023 21:58
From: Sibyl Beaulieu
Subject: Learning Plan - Employment Based Field Placements

Hi Sarah:

Attached please find our learning plan, which highlights the competencies required by CSWE, the professional behaviors that accompany those competencies, the agency activities that allows students to demonstrate those competencies and professional behaviors and the evaluation that the agency will utilize to determine the student has met the competencies.  The learning plan is a detailed outline of how the student will grow professionally at the agency and what opportunities will be provided in order for them to move from being an academic to a practitioner.  It can be used as a legal document by students, if they feel they had not received the effective training that the school promotes they provide, so it needs to be detailed.  Here is our learning plan. 

------------------------------
Sibyl R. Beaulieu, DSW, MSW, LMSW
Associate Professor
and Director of Field Education
SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES 
The Social Work Department @ UMass Global
T 951.413.2914 
sbeaulie@umassglobal.edu 
Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers
Preferred address by students: 
Dr. Beaulieu, Prof. Sibyl, Prof. Beaulieu
------------------------------

Hi Sibyl,

Quick question-who establishes the evaluation criteria?

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Shenita Williams
Director of Field Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
804-828-0708
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Original Message:
Sent: Oct 10, 2023 21:58
From: Sibyl Beaulieu
Subject: Learning Plan - Employment Based Field Placements

Hi Sarah:

Attached please find our learning plan, which highlights the competencies required by CSWE, the professional behaviors that accompany those competencies, the agency activities that allows students to demonstrate those competencies and professional behaviors and the evaluation that the agency will utilize to determine the student has met the competencies.  The learning plan is a detailed outline of how the student will grow professionally at the agency and what opportunities will be provided in order for them to move from being an academic to a practitioner.  It can be used as a legal document by students, if they feel they had not received the effective training that the school promotes they provide, so it needs to be detailed.  Here is our learning plan. 

------------------------------
Sibyl R. Beaulieu, DSW, MSW, LMSW
Associate Professor
and Director of Field Education
SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES 
The Social Work Department @ UMass Global
T 951.413.2914 
sbeaulie@umassglobal.edu 
Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers
Preferred address by students: 
Dr. Beaulieu, Prof. Sibyl, Prof. Beaulieu
------------------------------

Hi Sarah, we have all of our students complete the same learning contract for their placement, but we do have students who wish to do an employer-based placement complete an employer based proposal as a part of the placement process. These are completed by the student, and signed by their employment supervisor, as well as their field instructor and then are all reviewed on a case by case basis by our field team. Our proposal form is found at the bottom of this page if you would like to see it. https://socialwork.wvu.edu/students/field-education/msw-field-experience/forms

Best,

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Lindsey Rinehart
Field Education Director & Clinical Instructor
West Virginia University
Morgantown WV
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