Dilemmas in Social Work Field Education - by Terry Wolfer & Melissa Reitmeier (Paperback)

About the Book

"Since 2008, the Council on Social Work Education has identified field education as the social work profession's signature pedagogy. The success of field education depends heavily on field educators-field instructors, task supervisors or preceptors, and faculty field liaisons-for delivering a competency-based learning experience for students and maintaining the pedagogical integrity of the field practicum experience. Despite this focus on field education from the national organization and its accreditation standards, little guidance or resources for empirically based methods exist to orient field educators. In this anthology of decision cases (which require discussants to formulate the problem portrayed and decide on the best course of action), Wolfer and Reitmeier present fourteen cases of actual experiences of field instructors, faculty field liaisons, and field students. These detailed narratives based on in-depth interviews showcase the complex, messy dynamics of field education and highlight a range of issues experienced by novice and seasoned field educators that will increase their supervisory competence and confidence"--

Book Synopsis

Field education is social work's signature pedagogy, the essential preparation for professional practice. Its success depends on field educators--field instructors, task supervisors or preceptors, and faculty field liaisons--to guide and assess student learning and maintain the pedagogical integrity of the field experience. Despite its importance and complexity, few resources exist for orienting and preparing field educators.

This anthology presents decision cases that depict the actual experiences of social work field educators and students. They showcase the complex dynamics of field education and highlight a range of dilemmas experienced by novice and seasoned field educators. In various combinations, the dilemmas include interpersonal boundaries, emotional reactivity, initiative, expectations, role confusion, inadequate performance, accountability, interpersonal conflict, personal values, and impairment. The cases show how other field educators have navigated the issues that typically arise, with greater or lesser success. The cases portray the intricacy and rewards of this educational role and are selected for their ability to facilitate in-depth discussion among field educators during their initial training or continuing education. Guided discussions of these cases can bolster supervisory competence and confidence. They enable field educators to develop important problem-solving and critical-thinking skills related to their overlapping roles as instructors, supervisors, mentors, advisors, colleagues, and role models, helping them thrive and continue to serve the profession.

An accompanying instructor manual provides extensive information for each decision case and also includes guidance for field directors on how to use the case method of teaching and sources for additional information.

Review Quotes

Dilemmas in Social Work Field Education weaves together intersecting components of field education, providing engaging case material for teaching field educators and students. This book stands alone in terms of its comprehensiveness, content, and form.--Beth Lewis, director of field education at Bryn Mawr College

So happy to finally see this book. Social work programs routinely use the previous decision books in practice classes, and now we have a book that reflects the complexities that arise in field placements. It is a bonus to also have an additional resource to use in training field instructors.--D. Lynn Jackson, Texas Christian University

Wolfer and Reitmeier provide engaging decision cases that tap into an experiential method of learning, which encourages the reader to consider the multilayered dimensions of cases. Each case will spur rich discussions whether the audience is field instructors, field directors, or students.--Janet Bradley, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

About the Author

Terry A. Wolfer is a professor and the interim associate dean for curriculum at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. His previous Columbia University Press books are Dying, Death, and Bereavement in Social Work Practice: Decision Cases for Advanced Practice (2008) and Decision Cases for Advanced Social Work Practice: Confronting Complexity (2013).

Melissa C. Reitmeier is director of field education and clinical associate professor of social work at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. She is the chair of the Council on Field Education for the Council on Social Work Education.