Transforming the Field Practicum Site Visit Experience through the Integration of Web-Conferencing Tools

Abstract

The Council on Social Work Education promotes the inclusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in social work education. Accordingly, educational technology systems are becoming more common in social work education. One particularly appealing application of ICTs in this context is in the innovations they may make possible in the structure and delivery of social work field education. This article examines the integration of technological innovations such as web-conferencing tools as an alternative way to conduct field site visits. Outlining the potential benefits of this step, the article uses the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to propose measures to ensure the smoothest and most successful possible integration of ICTs for this purpose.