Empowering Social Work Research and Field Practice

**95**

**Chapter 7**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

exhilarating or scary.

of academic knowledge is progressed.

Irish Field Education/Social Work

Multi-Touch eBooks as a 'Wrap

Social Work placement can be the stimulating experience hoped for or the dreaded experience gained. Professional training values, whether these are influenced by globalization and/or indigenization are principled on the sharing of ideas and debates based on a multi-disciplinary integrated narrative approach. By presenting actual 'lived experiences' in the form of aural and video podcasts and linking these with research and theory, in our eBook Project, students, field supervisors and tutors were helped to explore for example, the use of language, supervision, reflective practice. This made the learning experience more modern, interesting and easily accessible for reviewing anytime anywhere. In practice placement, the understanding is not only what is learned but how it is learned. This Irish wraparound innovation regarding the inclusion of live recordings for teaching and learning brought together a shared focused and a thoughtful and inventive

**Keywords:** E-learning, podcasts, social work, fieldwork practicum, practice teachers,

A trainee sailor gets into a boat and the instructing Captain says "Away you go now. Take the boat out beyond the harbor and watch out for the rocks". The trainee gathers up all the knowledge they have acquired from their course and steers the boat out. There is so much to think about, there is too much to remember. This is not a simulation or a role play, this is real. Beyond the water-break it looks like a storm is moving in, what next, what is the best course of action, who can I ask for help? Moving into fluid placement from the shore of academic knowledge is like the first time the trainee sailor sets sail in a boat. It is real, it is immediate and it can be

The area of Fieldwork placement as an integral part of social work training has been well documented in research literature over the past 10 years (see [1–6]). All agree it is an essential and worthwhile experience in addition to a learning platform for students. It is where theory to practice is most relevant and the contextualization

Placement: The Making of

Around' Resource

approach to the fundamental work related experience.

tutors, social work students, fieldwork practice, fieldwork educators.

*Marguerita McGovern*
