Distance Education Programs in Social Work: Current and Emerging Trends

Cultivating Curiosity: Integrating Hybrid Teaching in Courses in Human Behavior in the Social Environment

“…The development of online and hybrid teaching, as well as distance education as a whole, has rapidly expanded (Vernon et al, 2009). As Maidment (2005) reports, students are spending less time on campus.…”

Teaching Direct Practice Skills Using Web-Based Simulations: Home Visiting in the Virtual World

“…In this study, distance learning was defined as delivering part or all of a course or courses through the Web, or through television or other media where students neither meet physically in the traditional classroom setting, nor meet simultaneously via one of the aforementioned forms of distance education. (Vernon et al, 2009, p. 265) When programs that were in the process of developing (or were actively considering developing distance education programs) were included, 61% of BSW programs and 83% of MSW programs were found to be in the process of engaging distance education formats to provide at least some courses for their students (Vernon et al, 2009).…”

“…The concerns voiced by students in this evaluation echo those frequently expressed by social work educators regarding the teaching of direct practice courses in an online setting. Indeed, instructors have expressed doubts about their ability to teach clinical skills effectively in an online environment in part because online classrooms have traditionally lacked the educational technology needed to support face-to-face interactions, such as role plays, live supervision, and simulated counseling sessions (Vernon et al, 2009;Wilke & Vinton, 2006).…”

“…Distance education has been a part of social work education since the nineteenth century (Regan & Youn, 2008). Online education, which is the most popular form of distance learning in use today, and computer-mediated learning technologies associated with this educational format currently are becoming an increasingly common educational platform in social work (Vernon, Vakalaha, Pierce, Pittman-Munke, & Adkins, 2009).…”

Effectively Teaching Social Work Practice Online: Moving Beyond Can to How

“…These concerns, which have been present within social work throughout the development of distance education, have often focused on practice courses (Groshong et al, 2013;Khaja et al, 2008;Moore, 2005;Siebert et al, 2006;Siegel, Jennings, Conklin, & Flynn, 1998;Vernon et al, 2001).. For example, Siegel et al (1998), found that social work educators have a bias against offering practice or methods courses online emanating from a belief that practice skills can only be taught in person. Similarly, Moore (2005) found that faculty perceived online education to be less effective than face-to-face instruction, particularly in the teaching of practice courses and clinical skills.…”