Fieldwork Assessment Guideline

Field Placement

The purpose of fieldwork assessment is to provide an objective feedback concerning students’ performance in relation to the learning objectives. Assessment of fieldwork takes place through a process of open feedback by students and Field Educators through regular supervision, as well as mid-term and final evaluation sessions. The emphasis should be on how much the student had learned and how much he can improve. It is hoped that each student would have a programme specifically arranged to meet his training needs during the placement.

Assessment Tools

The tools for fieldwork assessment consist of the following:

(i) Student Fieldwork Evaluation Form to be filled by Field Educator and jointly signed by Field Educator and student (Please see Appendix C: First Placement Evaluation Form for First Placement & Appendix D: Second Placement Evaluation Form for Second Placement).

(ii) Reflection paper / and *Skills exercise (SW3103A only)

(iii) Case Presentation

(iv) Seminar Participation

Generally, fieldwork grades given by the Field Educator are considered unmoderated grades. There may be further adjustments before the grade is finalized by the Department Tutor through examining the written assignment, as well as student’s evaluation.

Student Fieldwork Evaluation Form

At the end of fieldwork placement, Fieldwork Educators are required to conduct a final evaluation session, using the Student Fieldwork Evaluation Form as a Guide. (Please see Appendix C: First Placement Evaluation Form for First Placement & Appendix D: Second Placement Evaluation Form for Second Placement).

There is always a certain amount of flexibility in the kind of areas over which a student's placement is assessed. This may be the result of varying experiences and challenges provided by different agencies as well as the stage of the student's learning, i.e. First or Second Placement. However past experience has shown that Field Educators on the whole cover most of identified competency areas, as identified in Section 2.4 on the Competencies for First & Second Fieldwork Placements.

Failing Field Placement

The Field Educator should discuss with the Department Tutor the question of failing the student if he/ she consistently shows some or all of the following symptoms of inadequacy:

Incapacity to develop a working relationship with clients; is prejudiced, judgemental, rigid and punitive; difficulty in maintaining professional boundary in working with clients.
Lack of professionalism in practice, such as failure to consider the best interests of clients in field practice; negative work attitude.
Inability to see relevant application of theory to practice
Disinterested in improving skills.
Failure to accept responsibilities placed on him by the agency.
Lack of motivation to learn; unable to recognise failure to progress.
Inability to change and develop professionally.
Unwillingness to use supervisory help to overcome educational difficulties.
Failure to spend adequate time on field placement.

Field Educator must contact the student's Department Tutor as soon as such symptoms are manifested and no changes are observed in spite of the Field Educator's efforts to help. It is unwise to let the situation continue till the end of the placement when it is always too late to work on it constructively.