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 Objective 2: Participants will discuss the challenges of field education in an online environment Objective 3: Participants will review lessons learned

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? 3

Our MSW Program Launched September 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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

Online Field Education Program Framework 5 Key Components – (1) Staff – (2) Processes – (3) Policies – (4) Systems – (5) Partnerships 8

Component 1: Staff Credentials Experience Personality Creativity Flexibility Teamwork 9

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

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

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 12

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

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

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 15

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 16

Questions? ©2013 Walden University, LLC 17

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. 18

Contact Information Dr. Sebrena Jackson, LCSW