Undergraduate Social Work Education Research Articles

An ecosocial work model for social work education in Africa

There is a growing call for social work to contribute to the international movement towards sustainability to address the interconnected multiple ecological, social, and economic crises created by the global capitalist hegemony. This call is important for African social work given vulnerable people in Africa are primary victims of unsustainability. In this paper, we propose a model of an ecosocial work course for African undergraduate social work education. This proposal is based on our earlier review of the Bachelor of Social Work curricula of 12 universities in four African countries to determine the extent to which ecosocial content were addressed. Our review indicated the absence of an ecosocial approach in the curricula. To fill this gap, we then designed a model of an ecosocial work course based on our international experience in social work, our ongoing studies on sustainability, and relevant literature regarding Africa. We hope this model will be adopted by social work programmes in different African universities and used to shape social work students who will deal with the interconnected multiple crises in their practice. We also hope that this proposal will help African social work play a crucial role in the sustainable development of the continent. How to reference using ASWNet style: Tadesse M. E. and Obeng J. K. (2022). An ecosocial work model for social work education in Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 57-69. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.2 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Measuring and Validating a Transformation Learning Survey Through Social Work Education Research

This paper presents a reliable tool for measuring transformative learning in undergraduate social work education, the Social Work Transformation Survey (SWTS). The SWTS was developed from a qualitative theoretical model and translated into quantitative scales. The study collected data from 248 undergraduate students from eight countries who participated in a transnational project using creative journaling to facilitate transformative learning. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the internal structure of the SWTS. We then confirmed the measures’ reliability, and subsequently the effectiveness of creative journaling practices as a pedagogy for facilitating transformative learning in social work students. This paper highlights the potential of combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches to develop educational evaluation tools for higher education settings and presents one specific measure for transformative learning.

Impact assessment of academic support provided by tertiary learning advisors

In New Zealand higher education (HE), there is a lack of consistent ways of collecting evidence of the impact made by academic literacy support from Tertiary Learning Advisors (TLAs) on students’ academic performance, retention, and success. TLAs in New Zealand and Australia are primarily involved in providing learning support to students in post-secondary education to encourage development of their academic literacy and essential study skills. They are professional educators who advise students on issues related to academic writing and other academic skills, such as time management or exam preparation, to facilitate achievement of students’ goals of tertiary study (Griffith University, 2021). While it may be recognised that provision of learning support is desirable for a meaningful and successful HE experience for many students, hard evidence that learning support makes a difference to student retention and academic performance is difficult to find (Acheson, 2006, as cited in Breen and Prothero, 2015). This presentation sought to share an attempt to address this issue by investigating the impact of embedded academic literacy support provided by TLAs to three cohorts of students enrolled in undergraduate social work and early childhood education programs at my ITP (Institute of Technology and Polytechnic) in Auckland, New Zealand. Existing research in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom suggests that support that embeds academic literacy development in disciplines, rather than academic support that is generic and/or provided through foundation courses, represents a best practice model (Glew et al., 2019).

Forensic Social Work in Australian Undergraduate Social Work Education: A Generic Practice Versus Specialisation Consideration

ABSTRACT Australian social workers are routinely employed in forensic roles, including forensic medicine, domestic and family violence, youth justice, probation or parole, and correctional work. Forensic social work often is considered to be a specialist area of social work due to the required additional knowledge of the law, crime, victimology, comorbidity, and intersectionality. Globally, and in Australia, concerns have been raised about the training and education of forensic social workers. In Australia, there is no clear forensic social work education pathway; there are no tertiary forensic social work courses, and the AASW does not recognise forensics in their credentialing program. Thus, practitioners are seen to qualify through their generic studies. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent to which forensic knowledge features in the current AASW accredited undergraduate social work programs. A content analysis of available 2023 Bachelor of Social Work programs was undertaken to reveal any disparity of forensic offerings under a generic qualification. This research is positioned within the wider “generic practice versus specialisation” debate in Australian social work education. It raises concerns about the fragmented nature of forensic studies within Australian social work education. IMPLICATIONS There is a lack of clarity around what constitutes useful and sufficient forensic studies within Australian social work education, in the absence of specialist programs. There is little opportunity for social work students to gain “social work specific” forensic training in their qualifying education. Further consideration of a specialist forensic social work pathway could assist with the advanced training of this workforce.

Centering social justice in undergraduate social work education: a scoping review of pedagogical methods of teaching

ABSTRACT Social justice is a foundational social work value. Scholars express ongoing pedagogical challenges with how to teach students to embody social justice values. New to the social work profession, undergraduate students are in a pivotal stage to be trained as social-justice oriented future social workers. The aim of this review is to map empirical studies on teaching methods that translate social justice value into teachable curricula. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, we conducted a rigorous process in which we screened 5,953 studies and included a final 41 studies. We synthesized them into the domain, characteristics, types, and sites of social justice training in the curriculum, targets of social justice competencies, and evaluation of the teaching methods. Our findings identified four main teaching approaches: case-based learning, community engaged learning, intergroup dialogue, and simulation-based learning. In terms of competency development, most of the studies focused on awareness and knowledge versus skill building. Most included studies underlined the value of experiential learning and suggested making a fine balance between eliciting and addressing learners’ emotional experiences during social justice learning activities. Pedagogical challenges and future considerations of social justice teaching methods are presented.

A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis of social workers’ experience in end-of-life care

Summary Social workers are an integral part of end-of-life (EOL) care interdisciplinary services and provide comprehensive psychosocial support to dying people. However, despite the rewards, EOL care social work is wrought with challenges. There is currently limited research into the experience of EOL care social workers. Therefore, this qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) study examines the experience of EOL care social workers as revealed in existing literature. The QIMS methodology was used to synthesize and interpret findings from four original qualitative studies to elicit an in-depth response to the research question: What is the experience of social workers who work in EOL care? Findings The theme “EOL care social work is a privilege and a struggle” emerged, with six associated contributing factors: Privilege—(1) death is sacrosanct, (2) death is an opportunity for growth and healing, and (3) the religious/spiritual element of EOL care. Struggle—(1) ongoing pain and heightened emotions, (2) conflict of values, and (3) contextual challenges. This QIMS study serves as a preliminary phase to a subsequent, larger study. Applications This QIMS study provides a foundation for further narrative research into the experience of EOL care social workers. In addition, findings from this QIMS study highlights areas for further attention to foster the well-being of EOL care social workers. Finally, findings from this QIMS study could augment relevant EOL care content in undergraduate social work education.

“Talking about race is exhausting”: social work educators’ experiences teaching about race and racism

ABSTRACT Understanding the impact of race on the enduring racial disparities and inequities throughout our institutions is a key tenet of social work competency. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the experiences of undergraduate social work educators (BSWEs) who teach the required diversity course. Participants reported the primary challenges teaching about race and racism were: (1) faculty racial identity and lack of credibility (2) emotional toll of teaching about race. This study has implications concerning educators’ preparation to engage in anti-racist and equitable pedagogy in undergraduate social work education programs.

Faculty as a Barrier to Dismantling Racism in Social Work Education

Facilitating learning around race and racism is often uncomfortable for faculty as well as students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the experiences of undergraduate social work educators who teach about race and racism in social work programs. I employed a qualitative case study design to understand the lived experience of undergraduate social work educators who teach race specific content. I employed a combination of purposive sampling and snowballing methods to identify nine participants from the Southeast region of the United States. Utilizing a Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework to analyze interviews, several key findings emerged revealing faculty as barriers to facilitating learning around anti-racist content in the classroom. These findings were a) their own racial identity; b) insufficient formal preparation around race and racism; c) lack of faculty comfort with anti-racist content; and d) lack of skill in teaching anti-racist content. Recommendations include the implementation of scaffolded antiracist content throughout social work curricula that would be required by the Council on Social Work Education as part of the accreditation process.

Macro Practice Supervision by Social Work Field Instructors

ABSTRACT Although the Council on Social Work Education has identified field education and macro practice as core domains in social work education, there has been limited research examining the implementation of macro practice elements in field education settings. As part of a larger research project examining field instructors’ inclusion of macro and diversity-based content in the field practicum placement, this exploratory study focused on (a) field instructors’ integration of macro practice elements into the field practicum setting and (b) the amount of time field instructors allotted to discussing macro practice elements in their weekly supervision with students. Surveys were completed by 102 field instructors associated with an accredited undergraduate and graduate-level social work education program at a public university in the intermountain west region of the United States. This study found that field instructors integrate few or limited macro practice elements into the field practicum placement, field instructors spend minimal time discussing macro practice elements with students during weekly supervision, and the macro practice elements discussed varied across field instructors and differed among primary areas of practice focus in practicum settings. Implications for social work education and field practicum education are provided, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Jumpstarting Cross-Discipline Collaboration in Undergraduate Social Work Education

This paper examines the integration of undergraduate teacher education students into interprofessional activities with social work and pre-occupational therapy undergraduates. Like health professionals, school-based professionals work across disciplines daily and come together for critical decision-making on behalf of vulnerable and special needs students. Although evidenced-based pedagogy in interprofessional education (IPE) has become common in graduate and professional health education, less is known about its implementation in undergraduate education and with non-health-related disciplines. This article describes a 2-year interprofessional undergraduate simulation project with social work, teacher education, and pre-occupational studies students working prospectively in a K-12 school setting. Survey data found that students gained confidence in their disciplinary roles as well as in their abilities to communicate and collaborate effectively as a result of participation in the school-based simulation and related activities. The project highlighted the benefits of situating theory-driven undergraduate interprofessional learning in settings beyond healthcare and the need for developing assessment tools inclusive of undergraduates and relevant to a range of workforce environments.

Human Capital and the Case for Undergraduate Social Work Education

Higher education, from an economic perspective, functions as an investment in human capital. It requires time, effort, and money by the student as an investment with the resulting benefits of acquiring skills, knowledge, and values that promise a stream of future tangible and intangible benefits by earning a living in a chosen field or profession. Education viewed through this lens assists educators to articulate the case for their academic programs to stakeholders, including prospective students and their parents, university administrators, government regulators, benefactors, alumni, and the general public. This perspective has previously not been discussed in the social work education literature and provides new insights into several issues affecting social work education. These include the cost of higher education, the multidimensional benefits of education for the student and society at large, the role of the Council on Social Work Education, and the current challenges to the profession.

BPD Emerging Leaders 2010–2016: Identifying and Responding to the Need for New Academic Leadership

ABSTRACTIn 2010, the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) participated in the Social Work Congress in Washington, DC, along with other national social work organizations. In addition to sending selected Board members, BPD sent emerging social work educators to participate in a purposeful effort to ensure leadership continuity. Those selected, the “BPD Emerging Scholars” participated in the Congress and instituted an annual BPD Emerging Leaders Forum. These forums have allowed dozens of early career educators and experienced peers to openly discuss undergraduate social work education’s future, leadership gaps, needs of those seeking leadership, and ways organizations can support these needs. This article presents forum themes and offers a plan to support the next generation of undergraduate social work leaders.

Trauma-Informed Contemplative Pedagogy: Implications for Undergraduate Course Revision

Trauma-informed care has garnered considerable attention over the last 2 decades as neuroscientists and scholars have examined the implications of early childhood trauma across the lifespan (Felitti & Anda, 2009; Fallot & Harris, 2009). Although social work students are preparing to work in trauma-informed environments, the principles of trauma-informed care have not been applied to the classroom environment. These principles, combined with contemplative practices, are particularly relevant in undergraduate social work education where students grapple with complex issues related to trauma. Contemplative practices have been noted to improve self-awareness, mediate practice, and content-related stress in social work, and have positive implications for metacognitive and critical thinking skills. This article weaves together principles of trauma-informed care and contemplative practices and describes a course revision to an undergraduate social work course on crisis intervention and interpersonal violence.

The Benefits of Improved Information Literacy Skills on Student Writing Skills: Developing a Collaborative Teaching Model with Research Librarians in Undergraduate Social Work Education

ABSTRACTImproving the information literacy and writing skills of undergraduate social work students continues to be an issue for social work educators. In spite of the persistent concern, only a few studies examine the factors influencing these skills and interventions to strengthen them. This article details a faculty–librarian collaborative teaching model to develop students’ information literacy and writing skills through an iterative, peer-reviewed process that includes online and in-class library instruction. Pre- and posttest results from course evaluations, using the learning management system, indicate that students improve their information literacy skills, which in turn improves their writing skills. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for academic and professional development.

Immersion Learning in Social Work Education: A Pedagogical Tool for Enriching Knowledge and Practice Skills among BSW Students

ABSTRACTImmersion learning is one form of experiential education and has great utility in social work education. However, there is limited research on student learning outcomes from immersion learning courses in social work education. This ethnographic research describes an immersion learning course offered to BSW students (N = 9) and the learning outcomes gained. This semester-long course focused on macrolevel practice with people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and the sexual exploitation of women. As part of this course, students went on a weeklong immersion trip, where they visited a dozen human service organizations and interacted with people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Qualitative analysis produced three findings. First, students reported that these interactions helped them realize their biases and impacted their understanding of poverty. Second, students reported enhanced social work practice skills, such as cultural competency, self-awareness, and interpersonal expertise. They also gained a better appreciation for macrolevel practice. Third, students reported a better understanding of how to deploy classroom knowledge in practice and how to apply what they learned back in the classroom. These findings have implications for undergraduate social work education and how immersion learning programs can be a tool for enriching both knowledge and practice skills.

Strengthening Competency in Policy Practice: An Experiential Model for Student Learning

Competence in micro and macro practice is required by the Council on Social Work Education because it is essential for skilled practice by helping professionals. Social work educators have historically struggled to identify learning opportunities for students in policy practice that are interesting and help reinforce its relevance to direct helping. It is imperative that new methods of policy engagement be implemented in social work curricula. This article describes an innovative model, based on an experiential statewide collaborative of all undergraduate social work education programs, to develop and assess student competency in policy practice. Evaluation results indicate that students found this model more effective in teaching about the importance of policy practice than traditional policy courses and in conveying the importance of policy to their work in the field.

Personal reflection and experience of a Fulbright Scholar: teaching a mental health course in Vietnam’s changing culture

This paper documents the experience of developing and teaching a course on mental health for undergraduate social worker students during a semester in Vietnam. Social work is a profession at the early stages of development in Vietnam, requiring much curriculum development. There are over 40 universities with undergraduate social work education programs, but few of the faculty have had training or experience in practicing social work. The paper will summarize the main reasons for developing such a course given the current state of mental health need and services in a changing culture, as well as the current state of professional social work education and the newly established profession of social work. The author describes the contexts underlying the course—the status of social work and social work education in Vietnam, the context of mental health and mental illness in Vietnam, and curriculum adaptation to the cultural context. From this experience, the lessons learned about the role of cross-cultural critical thinking, cultural knowledge, and other strategies will be discussed about teaching a subject like mental health internationally.

Using Pinterest in Undergraduate Social Work Education: Assignment Development and Pilot Survey Results

ABSTRACTThis article describes the development, implementation, and assessment of a social media assignment using Pinterest as a tool for student engagement and professional development in two undergraduate social work courses. Twenty-one undergraduate students enrolled in Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) courses completed the assignment and a pilot survey, which assessed the students’ learning environment and reported learning outcomes. Results show that undergraduate social work students are familiar with social media for personal use but need guidance when applying social media to professional contexts. Further, students reported positive learning outcomes when using Pinterest as a tool to assess and curate professional content on HBSE topics. Implications for social work education and suggestions for future research are also provided.

Social work education in the Arabian Gulf: Challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACTReligion is an integral part of life in Islamic countries in the Arabian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and thus it informs social work education, practice, and policies. With the expansion of social work education around the world—both through Western universities opening international campuses and local universities developing social work programs—any Western faculty is part of developing social work education programs outside of their homeland. The development of social work education programs outside the Western world requires intentionality to avoid colonization (or recolonization) by, for example, adoption of inappropriate curricula and textbooks and/or promotion of culturally irrelevant or inappropriate interventions. Additional challenges, ethical considerations, and knowledge are needed to develop culturally relevant undergraduate and graduate social work education programs in the Arab Gulf region. This article focuses on the experience of Western social work educators in the Arab Gulf who are all Western-born and Western-trained social work faculty members who worked extensively in social work education in the Arabian Gulf region. They have developed programs in these nations and taught in both BSW and MSW programs in the Arab Gulf.

Experiential Learning through Group Work and Theater

ABSTRACTThis article highlights the positive attributes of group work and the arts in higher education, outlining a specific approach to group work using theater during a family violence class in undergraduate social work education, which provides compelling results from faculty and student reports. The article provides an overview of the project, including script development, rehearsals, performance, audience participation, facilitator responsibilities, results, and implications for practice.