The purpose of this study was to evaluate graduate students' perceptions of online field experiences. Responses to pre- and post-survey items provided data to examine whether online field experiences provided an authentic learning experience for graduate students enrolled in a Master of Arts in teaching program. Additionally, student reflections…

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate student responses to three different instructional strategies used to fulfill level I fieldwork requirements: traditional in-clinic rotation, a combination of virtual simulation and traditional in-clinic rotations, and virtual simulation. A multi-decade occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork…

In this qualitative study, we consider student experiences with and perceptions of teaching methods that are clinical skill-based (e.g., simulation role plays). Focus groups included Master of Social Work students (N = 40) from six universities in the United States. A framework-guided content analysis was used and revealed four discussion areas:…

The purpose of this study was to represent occupational therapy students' perspectives of their beliefs about knowledge and knowing, or epistemic and ontological cognition (EOC), before and after their first level 2 fieldwork experience. Twenty participants from four classes of entry-level Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students who had…

MSW students (n = 202) from four U.S. universities participated in a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program focused on integrated care with children and youth. Data were aggregated across programs to assess for improved scores on the Attitudes Towards Healthcare Teams Scale (ATHCTS). Students who identified as White reported…

There are a small number of MSW and BSW programs in the U.S. that have specialized tracks to train social workers to work with Spanish-speaking clients. This qualitative focus group study reports on the experiences of 25 students who participated in a new English-Spanish dual-language component in the final year of an MSW program in a Northeastern…

The Implicit Curriculum (IC) plays a critical role in the overall master of social work (MSW) educational experience. Graduating MSW students (N=262) from four different programs over a 2-year period completed the Implicit Curriculum Survey (ICS), which measures six domains of the IC -- field education, academics, community, diversity, advising,…

Field practicum plays a central role in social work education by socializing social work students to the profession and facilitating the integration of theoretical knowledge with skill development. Students can be apprehensive about beginning practicum and often lack adequate formal preparation for the practicum experience. This study evaluates…

There has been a call for social work programs to better prepare students for field education. This qualitative study examined an innovation titled Practice Fridays developed to enhance competence in MSW students in a classroom setting. Students (N=57) described what they learned through this simulation-based learning activity and the processes…

The emergence of COVID-19 created significant disruption for MSW students across the United States. This study uses several data for a case study of MSW student attitudes about COVID-19, online instruction, virtual field placement, and innovations during the emergence of COVID-19 in the United States. Data includes qualitative data from weekly…

MSW [master of social work] field education in China has been adopting Western models. However, this adaptation cannot address all educational and professional training needs in China. This study used an exploratory qualitative study design and interviewed 54 MSW students regarding their field experiences at a university in Shanghai. Results…

Teacher education institutes are in search of alternative models of field experiences, inspired by collaborative learning. This study examines team teaching. We focus upon the assistant teaching model, in which the student teacher assists the mentor during teaching. We investigate which assisting activities student teachers prefer, how student…

Field practicum is an active learning process. This study explores the different learning stages or processes students experience during their field practicum. First-year master's of social work students in field practica were asked how much they had engaged in educational learning activities such as observation, working independently, process…

This study presents pilot data using an instrument called the Implicit Factors Survey (IFS) that is designed to measure factors within the implicit curriculum, or the educational environment in which the explicit curriculum is delivered. The implicit factors explored included community, diversity, faculty advising, and support services. Also…

In Fall 2009 and Spring 2010, 30 teaching residency programs received funding through one of 28 Teacher Quality partnership grants awarded to establish or expand residency programs. These programs follow a model of teacher preparation in which prospective teachers complete graduate-level coursework alongside a year-long fieldwork experience in the…