Teaching Generalist Social Work Practice: Students' Perceptions of the Importance of the Instructor's Practice Experience

Abstract

BSW and first-year MSW students from one school of social work were surveyed to determine the influence that the perception of the practice instructor's professional experience had on that individual's teaching effectiveness. Results indicate that practice experience, particularly current experience, did enhance students' evaluations of their instructor's teaching effectiveness. The perception of the instructor's practice experience also was linked to several other attributes that enhanced teaching effectiveness, most notably serving as a role model to students and engaging in classroom behaviors that helped students apply their classroom learning. The results underscore the importance of instructors being knowledgeable about the field curriculum and suggest the need for caution when interpreting findings related to teaching effectiveness in social work education.