On Monday, August 25th, close to 200 MSW students and field instructors came together in the North Star Ballroom at the St. Paul Student Center for training to prepare for field experiences this year. After a large group ice-breaker activity, everyone settled in and learned about important field documents and policies. After this, we had a brief introduction to the first 2 developmental stages of internship experiences: anticipation and dissolution.
In order to discuss these stages with other students and field instructors, we broke up into table discussions and everyone made a group list that included completing the following sentence starter (regarding upcoming field placement):
“I wonder…”
Here is a peek at some of the responses:
- if my student/my field instructor will like me
- what my work journey would have been like if I hadn’t had such great internships when I was in graduate school
- if I will ever find balance
- if my field instructor wants an intern or had one assigned
- if the student will be a good fit for our agency
- if I will have adequate time to provide best supervision
- how the student will fit in with our team
- if I can stay organized to do my part
- what I will like most/what I will find hard
- if I will do/say the right thing with clients
- what new challenges are ahead
MSW students and Field Instructors found that many of their worries, wonderings and concerns were similar or the same as one another’s.
Here at CASCW, we have 24 IV-E Child Welfare Scholars beginning field placements this fall, and in the year ahead you will learn more about their field placements and experiences here in our field blog. Field Education is the signature pedagogy of social work education according to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). We couldn’t do what we do without all of the community support. We are looking forward to an outstanding year ahead and want to thank everyone who supports the University of Minnesota School of Social Work Field Program!