1. Claire Mc Donnell DIT Fran Pedreschi DIT
Engagement with a custom-made online system designed to support undergraduate work placement
Claire Mc Donnell DIT
Fran Pedreschi DIT

2. Common work placement issues
Students on work placement often complain about a lack of communication and feedback from their academic supervisors.
It is difficult to standardise assessment for students on placement.

3. Case Study BSc Optometry undergraduates 5 month work placement
Required documentation:
Log book
Competencies
Case reports
Eye test records
Contact lens records
Dispensing records
Supervisors reports

4. Problems with paper system
Limited opportunities for formative feedback.
Difficulty getting supervisors to send in monthly reports
Loss of work (particularly log book)
Delays in receiving students’ work

5. Solution: online system
Original plan: Everything online
New plan: dispensing records, competencies and supervisor reports

6. Details Webapp creating using Google App Script
Hosted on Google’s servers
Not compatible with Internet Explorer
Data stored in Parse online database

7. Opening Summary Page

8. Dispensing Record

9. Record with Feedback

10. Competencies

11. Supervisors’ Reports

12. Engagement: Stakeholders
Students
External (industry) supervisors
Internal (DIT) supervisors

13. Pilot
All students used the system to record some competencies and to submit all ten dispensing records.
16 out of 18 external supervisors graded competencies online and 17 out of 18 delivered their monthly reports via the online system.
Only 2 out of 6 DIT supervisors used the system to provide students with feedback.

14. Changes based on the pilot
Changes made to the system:
Sign in simplified
Marking rubric supplied to DIT supervisors and students
DIT supervisors and students started using the system while still in college
alerts sent to DIT supervisors when their students submitted records
Students could now see on their opening page when they had feedback.

15. Rubric

16. Second iteration:
All students submitted all five dispensing records via the online logbook
14 out of 21 students have completed competencies online
All external supervisors have submitted at least one monthly report online
9 out of 21 external supervisors have signed off some competencies online

17. Second iteration:
5 out of 6 DIT supervisors have provided students with feedback via the online system

18. Lessons learned A home-made system requires a lot of support
A pilot is essential before making the use of the system compulsory
The majority of students & supervisors (internal & external) expressed a preference for an online system over hard copy

19. Literature
Students like feedback stored electronically in the one place making it easy to retrieve. (Hepplestone et al, 2009)
Tutors (supervisors) may not engage with new IT systems if they feel that learning how to use the system will take up too much time. (Proctor et al, 2011)

20. Literature
Work done by students on placement stored electronically might be used by students post graduation to showcase some of their skills (Proctor et al, 2011)
“Proper management of the placement process and the preparation of participants for placement are essential to the quality and value of the learning experience.” (REAP project)

21. References
Hepplestone, S., Parkin, H., Thorpe, L., Holden, G. & Irwin, B. (2009). Technology, feedback, action! Sheffield Hallam University. Available from
Procter, C & Whatley, J 2011, Using e-portfolios to support student work placements. Conference proceedings: Education in a Changing Environment, University of Salford 2011.
Sheridan, I., Linehan, M. Work placement in third-level programmes. REAP (roadmap for employment – academic partnerships. Funded by the HEA (higher education authority). Published by CIT (Cork Institute of Technology) press.

22. Thank you for your attention