Student Placements Guide for Students on Placement

Prepared by the Board of Ministry

Placement Coordinator: Professor Bob Akroyd

Revised: May 2017

A Partner Institution of the University of GlasgowThe Free Church of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland: No. SCO12925

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

What you must do: Participate fully in the life of the congregation for the length of your placement Meet regularly with and take advice from your placement supervisor Prepare thoroughly for all preaching, teaching and speaking opportunities Meet pastorally with people in the church, in the community and in their homes Preach and teach regularly in a variety of settings and receive feedback Maintain your personal devotional life: Bible reading, prayer and study Grow in your love for Jesus and in your love for people Meet with the Board of Ministry representative to discuss the placement

Support & ContactsPlease do not hesitate to contact

Placement Coordinator:Bob Akroyd, bakroyd@ets.ac.uk ETS: 0131 226 5286, Home: 0131 664 6306

ETS Representative on Board of Ministry:Daniel Sladek, dsladek@ets.ac.uk ETS: 0131 226 5286

Board of Ministry:Convenor Angus MacRae, angmacrae@aol.comClerk David Ford, davidecford@hotmail.com

SubmissionPlease e-mail the following items to Bob Akroyd (bakroyd@ets.ac.uk):

Reflective Essay (see appendix 1) Placement Diary (see appendix 2)

Due DatesAs soon as possible after completing the placement. For returning students to the Edinburgh Theological Seminary – no later than the second Tuesday in August.

AssessmentYou must complete each placement to the satisfaction of the Board of Ministry before you can be licenced by Presbytery. The two main areas of assessment are communication skills and interpersonal skills. The grading scales are given below.

AppreciationThank you very much for participating in this placement. Your time, effort and prayers are appreciated. Your service is not just a necessary aspect of your training but is a genuine blessing to the local church and a benefit to the wider cause of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

1. Assessment Criteria - Communication Skills

Core Competencies:a) Able to teach and/or preach the word of God effectively, faithfully and clearly b) Able to articulate, explain, defend and apply the teachings of the Biblec) Able to speak with clarity, confidence and fluency in a wide variety of public

settings to audiences of different sizes with diverse backgrounds

Grades A – D represent a PassA = Excellent: exceptional communication skills, very able and experienced in all aspects of preaching and/or teaching; a gifted and able communicator. Student demonstrated a mastery of all core competencies.

B = Very Good: well developed skills in public speaking, very effective in most aspects of preaching and teaching with some communication skills more fully developed. Student evidenced most core competencies but might require further practice or development.

C = Good: some skills in public speaking; capable in preaching/teaching with some areas in need of improvement; lacking experience or competence with some communication skills. Student evidenced several competencies with improvement required in some areas.

D = Satisfactory: barely adequate in public speaking/preaching; some areas requiring major improvement; lack of experience and competency in several aspects of public speaking. Student evidenced some core competencies while others required significant improvement.

Grades E – F do not represent a PassE = Weak: obvious lack of confidence, competence and/or ability to communicate adequately, major weaknesses that require significant improvement or correction. Student did not adequately demonstrate any core competencies. This marginal fail does suggest that the student has potential for improvement.

F = Poor: no evidence of any particular skill or aptitude in communication; no obvious ability to preach or teach. Student was obviously deficient in all core competencies.

CR = Credit Refused Student did not comply with the assigned tasks or complete the agreed project.

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

2. Assessment Criteria - Interpersonal Skills

Core Competencies:a) Demonstrate care, kindness and respect when speaking and listening b) Demonstrate a willingness and ability to engage with all kinds of people

a. Able to encourage Christians to grow in their faithb. Able to introduce the Gospel to people who are not Christians

c) Demonstrate wisdom, discretion and sensitivity in pastoral settings and the ability to respond appropriately to a wide variety of pastoral situations

d) Demonstrate an authentic Christian way of life, manifested by trust in God, obedience to Christ’s commands and an obvious love of God and neighbour

Grades A – D represent a PassA = Excellent: an exemplary level of skill in dealing with people, able to respond appropriately in a variety of diverse and challenging situations. Student clearly evidences all core competencies with an extensive and comprehensive ability to apply knowledge with clarity, confidence and sensitivity. Very adept at all kinds of interaction with people.

B = Very Good: very competent and skilled in dealing with people, evidencing a conclusive attainment of most necessary skills. Student can address most pastoral issues competently and confidently and consistently evidenced most core competencies. Some pastoral/interpersonal skills could be enhanced.

C = Good: an overall adequate skill in dealing with people though may have found some situations too challenging or complex; able to respond appropriately to many issues. Student has good personal interaction and evidences several core competencies but has some areas of weakness. Sometimes lacked experience or confidence.

D = Satisfactory: able to engage with some people but there were some obvious interpersonal weaknesses. Student may have felt inadequate or overwhelmed and may have lacked requisite knowledge or confidence to engage effectively with people. Student evidenced only some core competencies but improvement is required in several areas.

Grades E – F do not represent a PassE = Weak: Student did not competently engage with people, lacked relevant knowledge and may often have been confused or confounded. Student did not adequately demonstrate any core competencies. Major improvement is needed to reach adequate level. This marginal fail does suggest that the student has potential for improvement.

F = Poor: Student did not evidence any particular skills or aptitudes in dealing with people. Engagement or reactions were inadequate, inaccurate or otherwise deficient. Student was obviously deficient in all core competencies.

CR = Credit Refused Student did not comply with the assigned tasks or complete the agreed project.Appendix 1: Outline for Reflective Essay (approximately 3800 words)

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

You should address the following topics (the word limits are an approximate guide): 1. Overall Placement Experience (1000 words)

a. What is your overall assessment of your placement experience? b. What were your expectations? How did the placement compare with your

expectations?c. What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?d. Did you have too much/too little/just enough work to do on the placement?e. Did you have adequate support while on placement? f. What kind of feedback did you receive? How did you respond to this input?g. How could the placement experience be improved for future students?h. If you were minister in this setting, what would your priorities be?i. Students completing their first placement: how does this experience inform

your thoughts as to the context or location of your second placement?

2. Communication Skills (400 words)a. Reflect on the experience of preparing messages and preaching regularly

i. How have you grown in confidence and competence as a preacher?ii. In what areas can you improve as a preacher and teacher?

b. What kind of audiences/settings do you prefer to speak to and why?c. What kind of feedback did you receive and how did you respond to feedback?

3. Interpersonal Skills (400 words)a. What did you learn about yourself, e.g. your strengths and weaknesses? b. Did the placement highlight any gaps in your Christian discipleship?c. How did the experience impact and inform your Christian faith?d. What skills were required for this experience?e. Did you grow in confidence and competence in these skills?f. Based on this experience, in which areas of life (e.g. character, skills, or

knowledge) can you grow and mature?

4. Critical Incidents (1000 words)a. Critical Incidents: Identify and reflect upon TWO critical events“A critical incident need not be a dramatic event: usually it is an incident which has significance for you. It is often an event which made you stop and think, or one that raised questions for you. It may have made you question an aspect of your beliefs, values, attitude or behaviour. It is an incident which in some way has had a significant impact on your personal and professional learning.When analysing a critical incident, it is useful to ask yourself questions such as:

Why do I view the situation like that? What assumptions have I made about the [person] or problem or situation? How else could I interpret the situation? What other action could I have taken that might have been more helpful? What will I do if I am faced with a similar situation in the future?”http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/medicine/reflective/2.xml

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

5. Reflective Reading (1000 words)Choose TWO books from the Placement Reading List and reflect on these questions:Critique:

What did you like about this book and what did you not like? Why? What did you agree with and what did you disagree with? Why?

Reflection & Application: Answer these questions and give appropriate examples: How has this text impacted you personally (i.e. who you are as a Christian)? How has this text impacted you vocationally (i.e. what you do as a Christian)? What will you do with what you have learned from this text? Why should someone else read this book and how could they benefit from it?

Best Quote: Identify one quotation which stands out. Why is this quotation significant to you?

Please Note:Good Reflective Practice:

Identifies key events, explains their significance and highlights why they were selected

Gives a brief narrative including plot, characters, setting, and conflict Maintains sensitivity and discretion always because real people and events are

involved Preserves anonymity and confidentiality throughout. n.b.: No living subjects

should be identified; names should be altered; and every effort should be made to safeguard the anonymity of subjects and the confidentiality of personal information and data.

Organises events clearly (chronologically or thematically) and succinctly Identifies key learning points and suggest areas for application and personal and

professional development

Characteristics of Reflective Coursework

A Reflective Essay:

may be based on a set text, a biblical text, a personal experience or a case study uses the first personal pronoun, e.g. ‘I think,’ ‘I learned,’ ‘I felt’ and ‘I understand’ facilitates thinking, learning, personal development and improved practice is not a research essay though reference may be made to secondary texts is not a narrative essay though narrative detail is often included is not impersonal or theoretical but rather is personal and practical

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

Appendix 2: Placement Diary

Placement Diary – keep a daily log of your placement indicating how you spent each day. The diary entries are to be brief and informative but not reflective.Try to capture: Pastoral work, Preaching and Teaching, Meetings and Preparation A Sample Entry:Friday morning: Sermon preparation, Finished Dangerous Calling. Read Murray on Romans 8 and Carson on John 3.Friday Afternoon: Visitation with minister – saw two couples (all members)Friday Evening: Youth Club: Primary group – gave epilogue (Rich young ruler). Secondary group - Gave my testimony (15 mins) – they asked some good questions

Weekly Placement Diary

SundayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

MondayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

TuesdayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

Practical Placements: Guide for Students on Placement

WednesdayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

ThursdayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

FridayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading:

SaturdayMorning: Afternoon: Evening:

Reading: