In our recent webinar, Georgia State’s Journey to More Efficient Field Education Management with CORE ELMS, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Dear, Director of Practicum Education at Georgia State University’s School of Social Work.
Dr. Dear shared how her team has transformed their practicum processes to better support students, faculty, and community partners, using CORE ELMS.
Whether you're evaluating new technology or simply looking for ways to streamline your practicum operations, Georgia State’s experience offers a wealth of insight into how modern tools can elevate field education.
From Spreadsheets to Streamlined Systems
Before implementing CORE, Georgia State relied on another software vendor, which left their team juggling spreadsheets and manual communication.
“The previous software made communication with our students and our practicum instructors cumbersome... [and] offered limited customization options, which often resulted in duplication of work through the use of spreadsheets and a lot of emails.” – Dr. Dear
Since transitioning to CORE ELMS, their workflow has become significantly more efficient.
“Our placement tracking is now centralized… we’re able to categorize agencies by population, location, practice area, as well as supervisor credentials.”
Students can now submit placement preferences, upload documentation, and track progress, all in one system. This visibility has created a more transparent and empowering experience for both students and staff.
Real-Time Tools for Better Oversight
A favorite feature of Dr. Dear’s team? Automation.
“CORE has a variety of notification features like the workflow automation tools, which has honestly been a game changer… [we] can monitor student progress and maintain accurate records all in just one place.”
Tools like “Pending Users” allow agencies and supervisors to submit onboarding details quickly and securely, reducing administrative back-and-forth.
Laying the Groundwork for Accreditation
As Georgia State prepares for their CSWE accreditation year, CORE is providing peace of mind.
“CORE will help us to track and report on student placement hours, supervisor credentials, evaluate learning outcomes, as well as any additional evaluation data that we require for the accreditation report.”
The ability to customize reports and access key data points without toggling between spreadsheets has made internal reporting and compliance much easier.
A Better Student Experience
CORE ELMS hasn’t just improved operations, it’s also improved how students engage with field education.
“Students now have a clear, centralized place where they can view available placements... track their own hours... and access their own evaluations.”
“Having a software like CORE really helps reduce student anxiety around the placement process and allows them to stay actively engaged with their own practicum education journey.”
Advice for Social Work Programs
Dr. Dear offered thoughtful advice for programs considering a move to CORE:
“Approach the transition as both a technical and cultural shift... Align your program-specific needs and goals and your specific placement process—[that] is how you can get the best out of CORE.”
Her recommendation? Start by mapping your current process and identifying “must-haves” based on feedback from students, faculty, and agencies. Then, tailor the system to match your structure and goals.
“CORE allows you to customize... We thought we had to fit into their system, and that’s not true.”
Learn More About CORE ELMS
CORE ELMS is built to support field education across a range of program types, including BSW, MSW, and interdisciplinary placements. From evaluation workflows to accreditation-ready reporting, it’s designed to reduce administrative burden while increasing engagement and oversight.
If you’re interested in learning how CORE ELMS can support your program, we’d love to talk. Schedule a demo or reach out to our team, we’re here to help you build a more modern, student-centered field education experience.
Thank you again to Dr. Dear for sharing her insights and experiences. Stay tuned for more program spotlights and best practices from the CORE community!
Allison Gildea
Author
