Connecting MSW Students to Community-Based Practicum: Feasibility and Acceptability of Panel Presentations

Foundation-year MSW students in Canada often have their first practicum in community-based agencies. Orientation can be challenging, as many students aim for hospital placements. Site visits are widely used for practicum orientation in Canada; however, drawbacks include intensive resources and difficulty standardizing the experience. As a site visit alternative and to inspire students for community-based practicum, panel presentations were piloted to assess feasibility and acceptability. Thirty-seven panelists (primarily field instructors) presented to 135 MSW students in October 2017. Most students (90%, n = 122) completed an evaluation form and 54% of panelists (n = 20) completed a follow-up survey. Panels were feasible and acceptable to students and presenters. This article details the orientation activity with considerations for research and practice.