Preparing students for their first fieldwork placement using on-campus practicums

The present study describes and evaluates a programme that aimed to help students make best use of the scarce professional resource of fieldwork placements, in particular the first placement. The placement used a model of self-directed learning as a foundation principle. An on-campus clinical practicum programme was developed following a needs analysis to facilitate attainment of clinical competencies that were a prerequisite to placement commencement. Student self ratings of comfort in doing specific tasks before and after the practicum programme were obtained. Student and supervisor ratings of performance in specific tasks after placement were also made. In addition, supervisors were asked to rate the level of self-directedness of students. Results demonstrate the positive impact of the programme in preparing students for their first placement. Supervisors identified high levels of performance on specified tasks and a view that the students were more self directed than other novice students they had supervised. Recommendations are made for the continuation and further development of the practicum programme.