You talkin’ to me?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v11i2.269Keywords:
assessment, observation, practice learning, social work education and training, student social workerAbstract
This article reflects a piece of research conducted with final year social work students and practice teachers within one health and social care trust in Northern Ireland. The work focused on the assessment of students via direct observations and aimed to capture the views, perceptions and experiences of students and practice teachers within this process.
The findings highlighted the complexity of the direct observation process and the need for effective communication as a central theme. One finding examined the issue of intervention and participation by a practice teacher within an observation. The outcome challenges current thinking as there was a high level of support for the use of professional discretion to intervene by practice teachers during an observation. The key components of preparation, agreeing goals, frameworks used and practice teacher intervention were dominated by the need for effective communication.
References
Barraclough, J. (1998) Changes to the DipSW: One step forward, three steps back. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 1, 2, 23-30nBogo, M. (2007) When Values collide: Field instructors’ experiences of providing feedback and evaluating competence. Clinical Supervisor, 26, 1/2, 99-117nBurns, R. (2000) Introduction to Research Methods. London: SagenByrne, M. (2004) The Long and Short of Practice Learning. Unpublished Masters Dissertation, Queens University/University of UlsternCCETSW (Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work) (1991) Rules for Rgulations for the Diploma in Social Work, DipSW, Paper 30. London. Central Council for Education and Training in Social WorknCCETSW (1999) Review of the Diploma in Social Work. London: Central Council for Education and Training in Social WorknClapton, G. (2009) Stories and Lessons from a Study of the Enhancement of Learning Process on a Social Work Degree Programme. Edinburgh: University of EdinburghnDingwall, R. (1980) Ethics and ethnography. Sociological Review, 28, 871-981nDouglas, H. and Byrne, M/ (2005) Improvement by degrees: reflections on developing quality in practice learning for the new degree in social work. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 6, 3, 43-59nFox, R. (1998) An essay on mutuality and parallel process in field instruction. The Clinical Supervisor, 17, 2, 59-73nFreeman, S.C. (1993) Structure in counselling supervision. The Clinical Supervisor, 11, 1, 245-252nHay, K. and O’Donoghue, K. (2009) Assessing social work field education: Towards standardising fieldwork assessment in New Zealand. Social Work Education 28, 1, 42-53nHeron, G, Lerpiniere, J., and Church, S. (2010) Portfolios and practice based learning: A student perspective. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 10, 1, 5-26nHumphrey, C. (2007) Observing students practice: Through the looking glass and beyond. Social Work Education, 26, 7, 723-726nIxer, G. (2010) There’s no such thing as reflection’ ten years on. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 10, 1, 75-93nKatrien, S., Dochy, F., Janssens, S., Schelfhout, W., and Gielen, S. (2006). The overall effects of end-of-course assessment on student performance: A comparison between multiple choice testing, peer assessment, case based assessment and portfolio assessment. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 32, 202-222nKemp, E., (2001) Observing practice as participant observation: Linking theory to practice. Social Work Education, 20, 5, 527-538nKnight, C. (1996) A Study of MSW and BSW Students’ Perceptions of their Field Instructors. Journal of Social Work Education, 32, 3, 399-414nKowproska, J., Hicks, L., McCluskey, U., Fisher, T., and Wishart, J. (1999) Facts, Feelings and Feedback: A Collaborative Model for Direct Observations. Video. Heslington: University of York Department of Social Policy and Social WorknLe Riche, P. and Tanner, K. (1996) The way forward: Developing an equality model of observation for social work education and practice. Issues in Social Work Education 16, 2, 3-14nLe Riche, P. and Tanner, K. (1998) Observation and its Application to Social Work. London: Jessica KingsleynLe Riche, P, and Tanner, K. (2000) Intentional Observation: Exploring transfer in action. Transfer of learning in professional andvocational education. 106-118, 13nMaidment, J. (2000) Methods used to teach social work students in the field: a research report from New Zealand. Social Work Education, 19, 2, 145-154nNIPEC RCN (Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (2008) Improving the Patient and Client Experience. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. www.dhsspsni.gov.uk, accessed 2nd November 2011 http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk'>www.dhsspsni.gov.uknNIDSWP (The Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work Partnership) (2009a) Practice Learning Manual. Belfast: The Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work PartnershipnNIDSWP (2009b) Practice Learning Handbook. Belfast: The Northern Ireland Degree in Social Work PartnershipnNISCC (Northern Ireland Social Care Council) (2009) The Standards for Practice Learning for The Degree in Social Work. Belfast: Northern Ireland Social Care CouncilnNISCC (2010) Practice Learning Requirements for the Degree in Social Work. Belfast. Northern Ireland Social Care CouncilnPollard, C. (2008) Non-formal learning and interprofessional collaboration in health and social care: The influence of the quality of staff interaction on student learning about collaborative behaviour in practice placements. Learning in Health and SocialCare. 7, 1, 12-26nSHSCT (Southern Health and Social Care Trust) (2009) Practice Learning Provision Guidance. Armagh: Southern Health and Social Care TrustnThompson, N. (2011) Continuous Professional Development Training for Practice Teachers. Southern Health and Social Care Trust. 26/05/11.n