“You Didn't Throw Us to the Wolves”: Problem-Based Learning in a Social Work Family Class

Abstract

Social work educators are challenged to create educational environments that are conducive to learning. PBL offers a structured and innovative learning experience different from a traditional theory-laden and lecture-based classroom. Social work educators are starting to embrace PBL because students can become active partners in their educational experience and can integrate knowledge and practice skills. This article describes the history, the rationale, and the processes involved in using problem-based learning. It then describes how the case method format of PBL was implemented in an undergraduate social work family class. Implications for implementation of this method in social work education are discussed.