Learning Plan
The Learning Agreement outlines student learning goals and objectives for field education. Instructions on drafting the learning agreement will be given to students by their Faculty Field Liaisons. The field instructor and student will collaboratively develop the learning agreement, which outlines student’s goals and learning objectives, during the first three to five weeks of field practicum and sign it (specific deadlines will be provided by the student’s FFL.) Students will be expected to collect and record evidence across the practicum that demonstrates how and when they have met required objectives and goals.
The Learning Plan is intended to be a working document. Initial goals and objectives may be modified or changed over the period of the practicum as student’s learning needs become clearer and learning tasks change or new ones become available. These activities may include: shadowing Field Instructors and other professionals as they engage with service users; going to meetings; participating in events; reviewing agency documents; filling out agency documents; meeting with service users; and other related tasks associated with the work done in each practicum. When shadowing, students may be asked to observe situations and later offer their feedback. Students might also be asked to take notes and/or participate in the situation. Typically, as students’ skills and confidence develop, they will be become responsible for increasingly difficult tasks as well as be more active in terms of negotiating with Field Instructors about what and how they need to learn.
For each Practice Objective in the Learning Plan, students specify:
- The Learning Outcomes they are selecting (What they want to learn)
- The Learning Activities they will engage in, which are as specific and measurable as possible (How they will accomplish that learning)
- The Accountability of their learning (How achievement of the learning will be evaluated)
- The Timeline in which their learning will occur (When they intend to complete the learning)
The learning plan will be reviewed and updated as part of the mid-term assessment with the field instructor. It will also be reviewed as part of the final assessment.
Learning Assessment
Assessment of students in field practicum occurs on an ongoing basis. This process encourages an opportunity to highlight student strengths, ongoing learning needs and opportunities. Students are formally assessed at the mid-point and end of the field practicum. Students and Field Instructors are to fill out the Assessment Individually first, and then meet in real time, either in person or virtually, to discuss the assessment. When they meet, they discuss the practicum and review the student’s Field Education Goals and Objectives as articulated in the Field Agreement. After discussion, the Field Instructor inputs a “Collaborative” number, which reflects their dialogue. Field Instructors need to provide concrete feedback about students’ progress and how they can improve specific areas. The Faculty Field Liaison does not attend the mid-term assessment meeting but does review, approve (or not), and sign the mid-term assessment form.