All field assessment articles

Assessing Student Performance in Field Education

Published October 2012

by Karen Tapp, JD, MSW
Assistant Professor, Northern Kentucky University

Caroline Macke, Ph.D, MSW
Assistant Professor, Northern Kentucky University

Tara McLendon, Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
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As the signature pedagogy of social work education, assessing student performance is a critical component of individual field student and program assessment.  A central question is how to measure students’ practice competence. Student performance in field education has been evaluated by measuring students’ interpersonal skills and practice skills. In addition, the effectiveness of field has been measured through self-efficacy scales, student satisfaction scores, client satisfaction scores, and competency-based evaluation tools.  Each of these different methods of evaluation will be discussed.  The CSWE 2008 competencies integrated into student learning contracts and field assessments, surveys, quantitative research, and qualitative research are offered for social work programs’ consideration.

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