ABSTRACT

Preparing students for social work practice is an important responsibility shared by field education and schools of social work. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to social work practice training and education in the classroom and field. This teaching note describes an online simulation-based learning activity known as Virtual Practice Fridays that was adapted from an in-person activity in response to the pandemic. Virtual Practice Fridays was a 10-week seminar for two cohorts of master of social work students, each facilitated by two PhD students who were supervised by a faculty member. Master of social work students developed holistic competence, including knowledge, skills, and self-awareness, as they met with two simulated clients over several sessions. Students described unique features of this simulation-based learning activity that supported their learning, such as working with clients virtually, having an opportunity to see simulated clients for several sessions from assessment to termination, and being able to use the time completed at Virtual Practice Fridays toward fulfillment of practicum hours. This was a new experience for the doctoral students and faculty member, and it permitted us to reflect on how to effectively teach students about social work practice. Implications for social work practice and education are discussed.

摘要

让学生为社会工作实践做好准备是实地教育和社会工作学校共同承担的重要责任。COVID-19 大流行对课堂和现场的社会工作实践培训和教育造成了干扰。本教学笔记描述了一种基于在线模拟的学习活动，称为虚拟练习星期五，该活动改编自为应对大流行而进行的面对面活动。Virtual Practice Fridays 是为两批社会工作硕士生举办的为期 10 周的研讨会，每批由两名博士生主持，由一名教员监督。社会工作硕士学生在与两个模拟客户会面时，发展了整体能力，包括知识、技能和自我意识。学生描述了支持他们学习的这种基于模拟的学习活动的独特功能，例如与客户进行虚拟合作，有机会在从评估到终止的几个会话中看到模拟客户，以及能够使用在虚拟练习周五完成的时间完成实习时间。这对博士生和教职员工来说是一次全新的体验，让我们思考如何有效地教授学生社会工作实践。讨论了对社会工作实践和教育的影响。并且能够使用在虚拟练习周五完成的时间来完成实习时间。这对博士生和教职员工来说是一次全新的体验，让我们思考如何有效地教授学生社会工作实践。讨论了对社会工作实践和教育的影响。并且能够使用在虚拟练习周五完成的时间来完成实习时间。这对博士生和教职员工来说是一次全新的体验，让我们思考如何有效地教授学生社会工作实践。讨论了对社会工作实践和教育的影响。