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Developing a Successful Field Program in an Online Environment: Lessons Learned

Developing a Successful Field Program in an Online Environment: Lessons Learned. Dr. M. Sebrena Jackson, LCSW Director of Field. Learning Objectives. Objective 1: Participants will discover key components of developing a successful online field education program

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Developing a Successful Field Program in an Online Environment: Lessons Learned

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  1. Developing a Successful Field Program in an Online Environment: Lessons Learned Dr. M. Sebrena Jackson, LCSW Director of Field

  2. Learning Objectives • Objective 1: Participants will discover key components of developing a successful online field education program • Objective 2: Participants will discuss the challenges of field education in an online environment • Objective 3: Participants will review lessons learned

  3. Who We Are • The Walden University mission • Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. • My background • What led me to Walden?

  4. Our MSW Program • Launched September 2013 • 2 year program of study (for full-time students) • Standard MSW Curriculum • Case study (video and written) • Must attend two, 4-day in-person Residencies • One residency before foundation placement & second residency before concentration placement

  5. Residency 4-day intensive training held at locations throughout the country Taught by Walden Social Work faculty Provide professional/academic advising Opportunity to assess student’s readiness for field Sessions on current topics in social work

  6. Field Program Overview • 4 Field Staff • Field Director –remotely from GA • 2 Field Education Coordinators, 1 administrative assistant-in Minneapolis office • Placed our first group of students March 2014 • Students placed in 43 states • Currently 142 students in field

  7. Field Program Overview • Students complete 1000 hours of field • 500 hours foundation • 500 hours concentration • Students are enrolled in a field seminar course during field • Students participate in a weekly synchronous call during field • Field Liaisons teach field course and conduct virtual site visits

  8. Online Field Education ProgramFramework • 5 Key Components • (1) Staff • (2) Processes • (3) Policies • (4) Systems • (5) Partnerships

  9. Component 1: Staff Credentials Experience Personality Creativity Flexibility Teamwork

  10. Component 2: Policies Identify key stakeholders Policies to guide practice with each stake holder Students Agencies Field Team

  11. Component 3: Processes • The Field Education Office developed processes and procedures to manage: • Student applications • Agency approvals • Instructor approvals • Student Placements at agencies

  12. Component 4: Systems • To meet the needs of students, agencies, and instructors we developed: • Communication strategies that are personal and efficient. • A centralized database to track student, agency, and instructor information. • A Field Education website for students and external constituents. • Templates and written explanations to keep our message consistent. • Criteria for agency and instructor approvals

  13. Technological Tools to Enhance Strategies • A few tools that enhance our service: • Roll email account • Video conference • Phone/Text • Real-Time orientation • MS products: Access, Outlook, Share Point, PP, etc. • Cloud product for documents • Website manager • Instant Messenger

  14. Component 5: Partnerships • MSW Field Office collaborated with a number of offices & programs: • Other Walden academic programs (counseling, nursing, education) • Central Office of Field Experience (COFE) • Career Services • Core Faculty • Comportment • Office of Institutional Research

  15. Field Challenges • Challenges look similar to on the ground programs • Working with students • Diverse population • Knowledge of profession • Working with agencies nationally • Staffing needs • Comportment issues • Getting students to apply to field

  16. Lessons Learned • Change! Change! Change! Continuously • Everything (Processes, Policies, Procedures) • Continue to keep students involved in the process • Students have buy-in when they are involved in the identification of agency sites • Field office isn’t blamed when things don’t work out • It can be done • Field instructors are open to using technology • Social workers in practice are embracing online education

  17. Questions?

  18. References Vernon, R., Vakalahi, H., Pierce, D., Pittman- Munke, P., & Adkins, L. (2009). Distance education programs in social work: Current and emerging trends. Journal of Social Work Education, Vol. 45 (2). Council on Social Work Education.

  19. Contact Information Dr. Sebrena Jackson, LCSW 404-403-4291 Sebrena.jackson@waldenu.edu

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