This activity introduces the concept of the field placement and looks at the field placement objectives. In the discussion activity you will be asked to provide your own definition of field placement.
Reading for Reflection: Field Placement Objectives
Before beginning this section, let us spend a few minutes clarifying the concept of field placement. Villeneuve defines field placement as “a time of practical training that forms part of a program of study and takes place in a prearranged work environment. It is a supervised learning experience for achieving knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for professional practice” (1994, p. 19).
According to Villeneuve (1994), field placement is not simply an introduction to a profession, but is also aimed at:
- acquiring the capacity to intervene in a given environment; placement therefore entails hand-on intervention and specific activities;
- providing continuity of activities and learning, beginning with past experiences and moving up to present experiences;
- providing a framework wherein objectives, activities and evaluations are planned to achieve the final goal of the supervised field placement: the integration of theory and practice.”
Villeneuve (1994) continues by stating that “field placement fosters:
- becoming familiar with a particular practice environment and the community being served
- experimenting with the intervention process;
- field testing of theoretical concepts learned;
- self-knowledge in action as an individual (personal values, strengths and limitations) and a professional (effects of one’s intervention).”
Let’s Discuss: The definition of field placement
What’s your definition of field placement? How does it compare to Villeneuve’s (1994) definition?
Work setting where the student will be able to put into practice the theory that he learned in school with patients and the unexpected situations that can arrive in the real setting
Putting into practice what you have been learning and having the opportunity to experience the complexity of real-life situations.
Love this.
Having the opportunity to apply theory that has been learned in the academic setting in a real-life work setting, but gradually at a slower pace, under supervision, and with access to mentoring and coaching.
A field placement is an environment where the person, their injury and your interventions interact. Learning to intervene within this changing context and adapting it to each person as no two people (and their injuries) are the same.
An opportunity to develop both hard and soft work skills of the profession in real-life situations with the guidance of a supervisor.