Assessment

Field Placement Gets Attention in Latest Version of Assessment Service

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/20/15

An online assessment system has been enhanced to expand reporting and customization options related to experiential learning. The latest edition of Chalk & Wire allows the user to customize management of field placement and internships. For instance, administrators can add custom fields to collect data related to specific field experiences, accommodating variations in programs across disciplines or to meet various state or national regulations.

The interface allows the user to pull in existing field placement data and set up a process by which new learning opportunities are proposed by students and added to the platform for future use.

Also, users can add Bing Maps into the portal to help students identify the geographic locations of field opportunities.

The program accommodates set-up of reusable field placement templates and scheduled assessments and surveys to be completed by candidates and their employers at specified points in time. Candidates can also be assigned journal forms that enable them to track metrics and experiences related to their fieldwork. Reporting lets the student and his or her supervisor track progress, such as hours worked and areas covered.

The Chalk & Wire suite offers a number of functions related to assessment design and completion:

• Survey and form creation, delivery and analysis;
• E-portfolios; and
• Accreditation support.

"Our goal was to build a tool that would facilitate broad and diverse experiential learning possibilities, while giving institutions the flexibility to manage a vast number of placements without a large overhead," said company CEO Geoff Irvine. "The feedback received from employers related to students' outside learning activities gives institutions deep insight into the success of their curriculum and mission."

Among institutions that have used the program are the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, the University of Charleston and Champlain College in Vermont.