Information for Directed Fieldwork Host Site Supervisor/Mentors

A host site should be a stable organization employing at least one qualified information professional. The host-site supervisor should be able to provide adequate time for training, supervision, and mentoring of the student in a professional setting. Fieldwork students are to perform professional (entry-level) library and information science tasks. Host sites, as well as students, may benefit from the Directed Fieldwork (DFW) experience.

Supervisor/Mentors in our DFW program are highly valued by the University of Washington Information School, and we thank you for considering participation in our DFW program! We know that supervisor/mentors provide an extremely valuable service for our students, and we expect our students to reciprocate by providing high-quality services at their fieldwork placements.

We are providing the following information for your consideration as you contemplate participation as a Supervisor/Mentor in Directed Fieldwork.

1. What is Directed Fieldwork?

Directed Fieldwork is an academic “course” (LIS 590) for our Master of Library and Information Science students. Grades for LIS 590 are either “Credit” or “No Credit.” For a student to receive a grade of “Credit,” she or he must complete a pre-specified number of hours of DFW, must turn in assignments to the DFW faculty coordinator, and must complete the tasks outlined in the DFW Learning Objectives Agreement (see attached/below). LIS 590 is offered as a two-credit (100 hours of work), three-credit (150 hours of work), or four-credit (200 hours) course. MLIS students, in collaboration with their supervisor/mentor, must decide which number of credits/hours is appropriate for the particular situation and quarter.

2. Who can be a DFW Supervisor/Mentor?

Supervisor/Mentors for Directed Fieldwork should have an MLS/MLIS degree or equivalent. Most of our supervisor/mentors do have their MLIS degree; however, as the professional horizons for information professionals expand, we realize that some potential Supervisor/Mentors may have developed professional expertise via other educational and experiential avenues such as other graduate programs (e.g., computer science, technical communications) or through extensive professional experience. Supervisor/Mentors should have a depth of experience and a strong professional identity as an information professional.

3. How does Directed Fieldwork actually work?

The student and supervisor/mentor collaborate to complete the DFW Learning Objectives Agreement during the first week of fieldwork (or earlier) in order to clearly define

  • What the student wants to learn (the learning objectives),
  • What tasks or projects the student will have to perform in order to meet those objectives, and
  • What the student will show as “evidence” of having completed the learning objectives (e.g., reference log, cataloging records, web pages, database designs, etc.). The Learning Objectives Agreement guides the entire fieldwork experience much like a syllabus outlines and guides a college course.

4. How much supervision do DFW students need?

Although the amount of supervision will vary from situation to situation, the student and supervisor/mentor should meet a minimum of once per week to discuss activities, monitor progress, and discuss any challenges or problems. Many supervisors and students meet several times per week.

5. What are my responsibilities as a DFW Supervisor/Mentor? Is there any paperwork involved?

As noted above, supervisor/mentors should meet with fieldwork students on a regular basis and at least once per week (unless there are unusual circumstances). We try to keep the supervisor’s paperwork to a minimum. Only three pieces of paperwork are used:

  • Learning Objectives Agreement (LOA), which the supervisor and student complete together;
  • The Midterm Report, which is also completed in conjunction with the student (this is a brief, structured way to assess whether the fieldwork is “on track,” and if any revisions need to be made to the LOA); and
  • The Final Supervisor’s Evaluation.

6. What types of activities, tasks, projects are appropriate for Directed Fieldwork students?

DFW students must pursue tasks and projects that constitute professional-level (beginning professional level) work. In addition, since fieldwork is meant to be a learning opportunity for students, DFW tasks usually involve skills and knowledge that the student has already begun to develop through coursework but for which the student has not yet developed a high level of expertise. Also, the supervisor/mentor should be more knowledgeable than the student for most of the DFW tasks. (Sometimes information professionals do have projects which require skills they do not have and for which they would like assistance from students who do have these skills. For this type of situation, students might be able to arrange an “Independent Study” rather than a Directed Fieldwork.)

Some fieldwork experiences actually involve project work, but other DFW experiences are characterized by the daily activities of an information professional. Either of these (or a combination) works well.

7. What is the typical time frame for Directed Fieldwork experiences?

Most Directed Fieldwork experiences are started and completed within the framework of one academic quarter (approximately 10 weeks). View UW's academic calendar.

8. What if I would like to find a student to work on a project that doesn’t qualify for Directed Fieldwork?

There are a couple of ways to work with students in the Information School. In addition to Directed Fieldwork, individuals or organizations wanting student assistance may offer part-time employment, may send us a request for volunteer work, or may set up an arrangement in which the student would receive credit for doing an Independent Study option.

9. How are Directed Fieldwork placements set up?

Directed Fieldwork opportunities may be initiated in one of three ways:

  • An MLIS student may approach a librarian/information professional directly and ask if Directed Fieldwork might be possible;
  • Our Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) may contact a librarian/information professional on behalf of a student to explore Directed Fieldwork possibilities; or
  • A librarian/information professional who wishes to work with an MLIS student may initiate contact with the Information School Student Services Office to request a fieldwork student. (If you would like to initiate such a request, please see the contact information below.)

10. How do I find out more about working with a Directed Fieldwork student in the University of Washington MLIS program?

For further information, visit the Directed Fieldwork website or contact Marie Potter, MLIS Academic Advisor, by e-mail or by phone at 206-616-2544.