From the classroom to the field and back: a pedagogical kit teaching social work students to complete psychosocial assessments

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the complexity inherent in undertaking and teaching psychosocial assessments, and although assessments are viewed as a critical component of helping relationships and a core skill in social work, the literature lacks in attention to how assessment is taught. The present article addresses this gap and introduces a pedagogical kit teaching students to undertake psychosocial assessments. It is based on the authors’ experience in a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) course in an Israeli college. The proposed kit applies the principles of experiential learning and learning by doing, and is informed by and informs the students’ field experiences. The kit includes four pedagogies: getting started—three steps to familiarity with psychosocial assessment; translating theory to practice through active learning; integrating the different assessment areas; and writing a psychosocial report. For each, classroom implementation and specific objectives are described and illustrated in detail.