What you really need to know about a Keuka Field Period!
Written on March 3rd, 2009 at 04:21 pm by Brittany Bridenbaker.Completing a Keuka Field Period is not only fun, but you learn so much in just one month. There are also some responsibilities that come with a Field Period that must be completely fulfilled before you can earn your 3 credits.
Before completing a field period, you must fill out a learning contract which outlines what your goals, objectives, and activities you wish to experience during your time at the site. You also must choose an unique documentation which could be but are not limited to, a scrapbook, videotaping yourself in action, a portfolio or PowerPoint presentation, just to name a few. This contract must be approved and signed by your advisor. Then you must have your site supervisor sign the contract as well. Once all of the paperwork is complete, you are ready to embark on a Field Period Adventure!!!
During your field period, you are required to write a journal entry every day to explain what your observed, took part in, or just thought about throughout the day. This journal will be handed in at the end of completion of your field period to your advisor.
After your field period, you must finish your unique documentation which you chose when filling out your learning contract. You also must complete a summary paper of about 3-4 pages in length which talks about what you did and observed, analyzing what you did, and what are you going to take from what you learned. Your journal is a very helpful tool when writing your summary paper.
Overall, the Field Period process is not too difficult if you really put effort into it. Look at it this way, you get a month off of school work and all of this experience will help you in the long run. If you really think about it, if you were at a job interview with another recent college graduate who did not graduate from Keuka, and you had a lot more experience in the professional field from your Field Periods then the other graduate, who do you think will get the job? I’ll let you decide.
