We are celebrating the first anniversary of the Field Educator, the online journal to promote knowledge exchange within the social work field education community. In this new issue, “Field Scholar” includes peer-reviewed articles on ethics in field instruction, bridging theory and practice in a domestic violence internship, field directors’ experiences with complex and competing demands in field education, and assessing student performance in field.
“Practice Digest” has brief reports on innovative models and practices in field education. In this issue, this section includes articles on cultural competence in field education, the Simmons School of Social Work Urban Leadership internship-based project, and working with Millennial interns. In addition, two experiments in field education are presented: an MSW student supervising BSW interns, and psychodrama as introduction to field placement.
“Students Speak” has an article about a student’s reflection on her field placements after a visit to a medical brigade in El Salvador.
The “Conversation” takes on the controversial issue of employment-related placements. The discussion, moderated by JoAnn McFall of Michigan State University and Chair of the CSWE Field Council, takes place between Rebecca Brigham, Director of Field Education at the School of Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill; Steve Holloway, Director of the Office of Accreditation at CSWE; and Peter Vaughan, Dean of the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University.
We are pleased to introduce a new section — “Kudos” — which honors notable field educators; this issue honors George Baboila, winner of the 2011 Heart of Social Work Award. “What We’re Reading” brings readers up to date with current field scholarship; in this issue, we focus on articles from international journals. The “News” section has been expanded to include postings for open field director positions, as well as a “hail and farewell” to Loretta Vitale Saks, who retired this summer from the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University. Readers are encouraged to send to [email protected] any announcements of open positions in field education and/or retirements of field directors. Readers are also encouraged to share information about field resources, such as websites, in the ongoing “Resources” section, and to send comments on Field Educator articles or other field-related subjects to [email protected] to be included in the ongoing “Life in the Field” blog.
July 2013 is the deadline for submissions for the $1000 award for excellence in field scholarship. Please visit the section on the “2013 Prize for Excellence in Field Education Scholarship” to learn more about submission guidelines.
Thanks to all contributors, consulting editors and readers who continue to build a community of field educators through the Field Educator journal.