Teaching Social Work Knowledge, Skills and Values online

McCormick, Mick and Strang, Jo (2024). Teaching Social Work Knowledge, Skills and Values online. In: Leading the Future of Learning: Proceedings of the Innovating Higher Education Conference 2024., 23-25 Oct 2024, Limassol, Cyprus, European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU), pp. 220–230.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14220974

Abstract

The Open University (The OU), based in the UK, produces world-class research, scholarship, and knowledge exchange across a wide range of subject areas. Since its launch in 1969, more than 2.3 million people worldwide have achieved their learning goals by studying with the OU.
This presentation, delivered by Jo Strang (Lecturer in Health and Social Care and Mick McCormick (Senior Lecturer in Social Work), outlined the innovative design of a new module, ‘Foundations for Social Care and Social Work Practice’. The module was created with input from various stakeholders, including academics, people with lived experience of using services, employers, and students. Through innovative activities and online teaching tools, students engage with peers and instructors online to practice skills, discuss linking theory and practice, and working towards demonstrating their readiness for practice in social work and social care.
This was a new venture to bring first-year social care and social work students together and teach a skills module fully online. Mick and Jo led the team, and in this presentation, they discussed the challenges they faced and how they overcame them through considered learning design. They outlined the various elements that contributed to a successful learning experience that has been reviewed positively by students, tutors, employers, and external examiners alike.
During this presentation, Jo and Mick linked to pedagogical theory to explain why the design was structured and created as it was, with evaluative quotes from all stakeholders. There is much to be learned from the design and success of this module that will be of interest to others seeking to improve online delivery of skills in module design. The module is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Jo and Mick completed their presentation summarising recent changes to assist student engagement with this innovative module.

Plain Language Summary

Review of innovatieve online skills delivery for first level social care and social work students.

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