Remote field placements during the pandemic: Lessons learned at the University of British Columbia School of Social Work

Abstract

COVID-19 and the global pandemic significantly shifted social work field education and required innovations in how practicum experiences could simultaneously meet experiential learning objectives and maintain safety. Remote practicums where students were connected to an agency/organization but completed all their learning/service delivery and supervision virtually was one of these innovations. As a quality assurance exercise, the Chair of the Field Education Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Social Work interviewed four MSW students about their experiences in remote practicums. This article describes some of the benefits and challenges outlined by the students and illustrates possible practices and policies that the UBC School of Social Work field team can make to harness the learning from these experiences.