Evaluations & EndingsEvaluations & Endings

Field InstructorField InstructorEducation SeminarEducation Seminar

Vina SandherVina SandherField Education Manager Field Education Manager

March 25, 2011March 25, 2011

Agenda

• Welcome and Introduction• The Journey of Entering the World of Social

Work involves Evaluation• The Importance of Evaluation• Some challenges in completing evaluations• Expected Level of Development for BSW and

MSW• Student Evaluation Case Example • Database training • Endings for students• Endings for Field Instructors

The Journey of entering the World of Social Work involves EVALUATION

+ + = Social WorkersACADEMICS

•Presentations

•Exams

•Papers

FIELDPRACTICUM

•Review documentation

•Sit in on an interview

•Shadow the student

•Ask for feedback from colleagues

•Debriefing with student

•Asking students to prepare a presentation

College Registration

Ontario College of SW and SSW expects that SW entering the field have certain qualifications and skill set

• To ensure that we are introducing competent, ethical, and responsible social work students into the social service industry

• To provide accountability for the quality of social work services in the community

• To ensure that graduating students achieve a performance level necessary for beginning practice

• To describes the student’s current level of knowledge, skill and achievements

• To mark difficulties experienced in arriving at that point;

• To specify areas for future development.

Reference : Suanna J. Wilson, Field Instruction: Techniques for Supervision (New York: Macmillan, 1981), p. 164.

The Importance of Evaluation

Some challenges in completing Final Evaluations

• Facilitating learning is more appealing than judging performance

• Social work values of being nonjudgmental, using strengths perspective, individualization, and understanding performance behavior are challenged

• Social Workers don’t always like giving “criticism” and feeling like they are in a position to evaluate

• How to measure success in placement (is it based on number of cases the students can carry, the learning goals and there attainment, the student’s own perceptions, the student’s relationship with clients, their understanding of the agency and it’s unique way of operating, etc).

• How to evaluate BSW vs. MSW students

• Students should now be ready to practice—How does it feel to be involved in “gate keeping” for the profession?

• Discussion around providing a reference to students

How to initiate the student evaluation process

•Start talking about the final evaluation a couple of weeks before the placement ends

•Ask the student to reflect on their journey in your agency; -what did they think the placement would be like-did they have any misconceptions of what SW in the

community would entail-what did they learn about themselves -what were their hopes, fears, and expectations-do they feel their learning goals were realistic, etc

•Ask students to discuss what they perceive as their achievements, strengths, and possible areas to improve (this is important because sometimes students may not see or feel that they are doing well).

•Encourage students to first evaluate their own learning and complete the Final Evaluation by themselves. (rough draft)

The Final Evaluation---Process (cont’d)

• Arrange a formal meeting with your student to work on the Final

Evaluation collaboratively.

• Use this time to give “balanced feedback”.

• Feedback should be clear, systematic, and inviting dialogue.

• Use the Learning contract and the Mid Point Evaluation as a tool to build the Final Evaluation on.

• Ensure that student’s include a detailed account of the work completed

• Field Instructors should elaborate in the space provided under each section or provide attachments where necessary.

Expected Level of Development --BSW

• The student has demonstrated growth across the time of placement, i.e., has demonstrated not only a conceptual grasp of theory and relevant understanding of policy and community development, but an ability to integrate theory into practice in a purposive way;

• At the time of final evaluation, the student could function as a beginning social worker in a general service agency, i.e., capable of autonomous work in routine areas after a period of orientation with awareness, and capacity to seek out and utilize consultation and help from supervisors and other staff members.

Expected Level of Development for MSW

• Upon commencement of the MSW placement a student should demonstrate a strong grounding in social work theory and practice.

• Over the course of the placement the student is expected to demonstrate an advanced level of practice in which the student demonstrates initiative as a practitioner, professional; and colleague and can function autonomously in their individual practice and within the agency.

BREAKBREAK

:: School of Social WorkSchool of Social Work

Online Database---Student Case Example

• You are the Field Instructor for a BSW student.• There are 3 weeks left until the end of placement• You have encouraged your student to print and complete the

evaluation based on their own reflections (this is a rough copy of the evaluation that you can use as a tool to build on)

• You have met with the student to discuss their progress • You should remind the student that they must initiate the

online evaluation by pressing “SUBMIT” • You are now prepared to complete the Online Student

Evaluation

On-Line Database – Final Evaluation Process

Step one -- Student initiates the process1. Student Logs on database, go to Final Evaluation2. Check to see if update is needed for Learning Goals, Plans for Goal

**click on check box ‘do you want to change data from Learning Contract?’ to do updates3. Student ‘Submit’ (submit button at bottom) to Field Instructor

Step two -- Field Instructor 1. Field Instructor logs on database My student 2. Goes to Final Evaluation Input Rating and Comments3. ‘Submit’ (submit button at bottom) to Faculty Advisor/PRS Director

Step three -- Faulty Advisor/PRS DirectorFaulty Advisor/PRS Director logs on database My student Final Evaluation Review

Final Evaluation-- Field Instructor puts in Rating & Comments in Collaboration withstudent

Final Evaluation

-- Student updates

Info if needed in Collaboration with

Field Instructor

Student Submits to

Field Instructor

Field Instructor Submits to FacultyAdvisor/ PRS Dir

Final Evaluation

-- Faculty Advisor/ PRS Director

Reviews

Open Internet BrowserOn Address Line Type: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sowk

On-Line Database – Log In

Click on “Database Sign In”

On-Line Database – Log In

You will be directed to the SOWK Online Application Page.Select “Field Instructors”

On-Line Database – Log In

• Enter your User Name

• Enter your password

• Click on “Submit”

This will bring you to the SOWK Online Application – Field Instructor’s Page.

On-Line Database – Log In

Once you login you will be directed to your profile. Your name will appear here

Online Database – My Profile

If your information is incorrect please inform the Field Office

Click on “My Students” to view your list of Student(s) and to access their practicum documents

On-Line Database – My Students

On-Line Database – My Students

Click on the drop down menu for “Placement Term” to select the term you want

On-Line Database – My Students

Click on the different page numbers to see all of your students

• Collaborative Process

• Talk to the student about their progress and how they think they should be evaluated before the forms are filled out

• After this is agreed to, the information can be filled out on-line.

• Click “SAVE” every 10 minutes, as the database will log you out due to inactivity

On-Line Database Forms – Reminder…

On-Line Database – Final EvaluationClick on “View” under Final Evaluation to access the student’s Final

Evaluation

Click this box to input your information

On-Line Database - Final Evaluation

The student’s Final Evaluation will open up in a new window

On-Line Database – Final Evaluation

Student’s can change the learning goals and plans but only the Field Instructor can input the rating and provide comments

On-Line Database - Final Evaluation

On-Line Database - Final Evaluation

If you scroll over the “RATING” with your mouse, you will get a brief description of what is being asked

On-Line Database - Final Evaluation

If you want to save your information and come back to it, click on “Save”. Your information will be saved but won’t be submitted until you click on “Submit”

You can print the

evaluation by clicking on “Print

Form” & set printer to

Landscape

Student’s type the summary of the placement

Once you are done, click on

“Submit”

• REMINDER: The Field Instructor cannot input any information into the final evaluation unless the Student signed into their final evaluation previously and has clicked on “Submit” even if the Student has no changes to make on their end.

• The Field Instructor submits the final evaluation on behalf of the Student.

On-Line Database - Final Evaluation

On-Line Database – Log Out

Make sure you Log Out at the end of each session

Evaluation Deadline – Important Dates

For BSW Students:

Final Evaluation to be completed by Wednesday, April 13, 2011

For MSW Students:

Final Evaluation to be completed by Wednesday, April 13, 2011

• These deadlines are only for students that are planning on convocating in June.

• For all other students, please ensure to complete the evaluation by the last week of their placement.

Q: I forgot my User Name or Password?

A: Send an email to estherng@yorku.ca

Q: Keep getting an error message when I type in the User Name & Password that I got?

A: The User Name & Password is case sensitive, so you need to type in the Username, password exactly or ‘copy & paste’ them from the original email. Contact estherng@yorku.ca and she will check or re-generate another password if needed.

Q: Can’t open the evaluation.

A: You may try to log on the website through Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, sometimes Firefox works better in certain computer systems

IF you can’t see your student name under My Student, contact estherng@yorku.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When I open evaluation, it is all blank & there is no information on Learning Goals & Plans for Goal etc?

A: If the student hasn’t submitted (‘Submit’ button at the bottom) or not successfully submitted his/her on-line Final Evaluation to the Field Instructor, no information will be populated. Ask the student to submit it and the content can be viewed by field instructor right away, don’t type in anything since data can’t be saved at this point.

Q: I can’t make any changes to the goals on the Final Evaluation?

A: Field Instructor’s can’t make changes on the Learning Goals or Plans for Goal. Students should type it in or make changes when they do the Final before they submit it to the Field Instructor.

For the Final Evaluation the Field Instructor is required to put in Ratings and Comments and then click ‘Submit’.

Q: Can I make change after I submitted - e.g. comments?

A: No changes can be made after the evaluation is submitted.

Q: I hit the ‘Submit’ button by mistake, what can I do?

A: Call Esther Ng at 416-736-2100 x 20662, we will need to ask tech support team to reverse this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trouble-Shooting and Help?

Any questions on the database

Please contact

Esther Ng

Email: estherng@yorku.ca

Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 20662

Social Work Practice Skills:

Works collaboratively with clients to establish clear objectives for resolving social problems

1 2 3 4 5 N

BSW Evaluation Example

Range of performance levels:1- Unacceptable: The student demonstrates little understanding of the skill and knowledge base needed to achieve this skill level in practice.2- The student understands the skill but has limited ability to adopt in practice.3- The student understands the skill and makes tentative attempts to put it into practice. More practice is needed. 4- The student has demonstrated effective use of the skill. 5 -The student uses this skill regularly and appropriately as part of his/her interpersonal style.

Anti-oppressive Practice Skills

Critically analyzes the organizational structure and tools (e.g., intake policy and procedure) and its impact

on clients and service delivery

1 2 3 4 5 N

MSW Evaluation Example

Range of performance levels:1- Unacceptable: The student demonstrates little understanding of the skill and knowledge base needed to achieve this skill level in practice.2- The student understands the skill but has limited ability to adopt in practice.3- The student understands the skill and makes tentative attempts to put it into practice. More practice is needed. 4- The student has demonstrated effective use of the skill. 5 -The student uses this skill regularly and appropriately as part of his/her interpersonal style.

Student Evaluation Example

• You have just sat down to complete the final evaluation of your student. While you reflect on the year and your student’s progress, you find it difficult to complete parts of the evaluation. In some areas, including SW practice skills and professional development skills (written assessments and internal database understanding) your student is not where you consider a student at their level should be. However, in all other areas your student has done either fair or well and you feel comfortable passing them on the overall practicum. The student also seems both sensitive to criticism and highly concerned about employability after placement.

• What will you say to the student?• What will you say in the narrative portion of the evaluation?• Who might you consult with?• What else could you do?• What happens when you are asked for a reference for this

student?

• Ending of placement is inevitable

• Ending is a mutual experience

• Involves ending of student relationships with:

Field instructorClientsAgency staff

Endings

Practice Principles1. Allow time:

Now is a good time to meet with the student to review her work to date and plan for the termination process with each participant /project. Students will want to know when and know when and how to talk with the folks they have been working withhow to talk with the folks they have been working with and what more they can get done in the remaining time in the term;

2. Introduce theoretical material.

Ask the student to share with you what they are reading in what they are reading in practice classpractice class about endings. Provide your own materials to the student if you think this would be relevant to your agency.

Endings

Practice Principles:

3. Teach the student about predictable reactions by participants to ending:a) Feelings of rejection or abandonment - the goal is to

talk about these feelings;

b) Anxiety and regression - the return of presenting problems; onset of new problem(s) that might mean termination should be postponed;

c) Pride, joy, sense of accomplishment;

d) Denial of feelings of loss or any feelings about termination - this can make the student feel that she has had not impact on the participants she has been working with ;

e) Help the student anticipate how each participant will respond to ending.

Endings

Practice Principles

4. Talk with the student about how other endingsother endings have

gone for them - past participants, participants who have

dropped out of program; encourage the student to think think

about personal endingsabout personal endings as well.

Endings

Some Students’ Reactions to Endings:Some Students’ Reactions to Endings:

Plan how to continue a relationship with the agency, participant, or field instructor;

Become too busy for the supervision hour;

Become hyperactive, i.e., seeing more participants, requesting more supervision time, etc.;

Feel disinterested already, distancing from participants or you;

Feel sad and nostalgic;

Feel depressed about the future

Endings

More Reactions to Endings:More Reactions to Endings:

Focus on next year’s tasks (job, next field placement);

Feel angry with the school or the agency for providing inadequate training (e.g., social work training should be a year longer);

Feel relieved;

Think about what has been satisfying and disappointing.

Reference : Linda Reilly M.S.W. is Assistant Field Director in the Eugene area. This outline was taken from one of her workshops for Field Instructors.

Endings

Tasks of Ending:

a)a) Summarize the work completedSummarize the work completed:: what worked, what didn’t work, Say goodbye;

b) Arrange for work transferwork transfer if continued involvement is deemed necessary.

Endings

Practice Principles

Ending Tasks:

c) Help the student to know what the what the placement has meant to themplacement has meant to them and determine what is useful to share with participants;

d) Help the student work through her work through her attachmentattachment to the placement and let go.

Endings

Practice Principle:

Discuss your own feelings about endings with

the student - grief, loss, guilt, accomplishment,

joy, relief. This parallel processparallel process will model for

the student how she can address endings issues

for herself and those she has worked with

directly participants or otherwise.

Endings

Practice Principles:Be aware of your reactions to endingyour reactions to ending:

1. Sometimes we experience panic at not having taught the students more;

2. Work toward the acceptance of not having taught everything, recognizing limitations and endings.;

3. Define realistically what can be accomplished in the remaining weeks;

4. Recognize the gifts you have given your student and those you have received.

Endings

Practice Principles:

Benefits/ Regrets?

Student speaks about relationship with field instructor;

Field instructor speaks about relationship with student.

As a Field Instructor, what did you learn about your teaching style? Would you do it again? What challenged you?

Endings

Thank You!

Questions, Comments, Feedback?

Vina SandherManager, Field EducationEmail: vsandher@yorku.caTel: 416-736-2100 x 39488