Preparing Social Work Graduates for Digital Practice: Ethical Pedagogies for Effective Learning

World wide closed! Social worker field practice during the ‘lockdown’ period

“…The analysis of the changes rightfully raises the question: to what extent and in what form will these innovations be carried forward? According to our results some field instructors believe that the online environment could 'revolutionize' social services, their administration and field practice as such (DK field instructor) (Goldingay & Boddy, 2017). Others think that online work should only be a tool for preparation in the background, and its proportion within field practices should not exceed 15% (KF field instructor).…”

Harnessing Technology in the Social Work Discipline: Moving Forward Ethically

“…Two other social work values that overlap considerably concerning technology are dignity and worth of a person and the importance of human relationships. These values are also central to why some practitioners are leery of using technology in providing clinical services, as there is concern that the client-social worker relationship will be compromised and the quality of services provided reduced (Goldingay & Boddy, 2017;Reamer, 2018). The social work value of dignity and worth of a person speaks to respecting all people, their diversity, and supporting their right to self-determination (Segal et al, 2019).…”

“…Social workers with additional training in computer science or cyber security would be highly marketable in today's social work market (Reardon, 2010). Additionally, social work preparatory programs should include curriculum that trains social work students how to safely and ethically incorporate technology in social work settings as part of their overall education in social work ethics (Goldingay & Boddy, 2017).…”

“…At the root of resistance may be an opposition to change by a practitioner. Genuine care and concern for clients may also hold social workers back from embracing technology (McAuliffe & Nipperess, 2017;Reardon, 2010), especially if the client-social worker relationship is affected (Goldingay & Boddy, 2017). Embracing new technology, specifically social media and electronically shared information, pulls five ethical categories to the forefront: client privacy, informed consent, client confidentiality, social worker privacy and confidentiality, and boundaries (Cummings, 2016;Groshong & Phillips, 2015;Reamer, 2013& 2015.…”

Social Work Education: Moving the Profession into the Future

“…However, I would take issue with Davis and her colleagues in their seeming lack of awareness of the growing Australian literature, which is finding that online teaching can effectively enable students to achieve desired learning outcomes that are comparable with the outcomes achieved by students attending on-campus classes (e.g. Crisp, 2018;Gillingham, 2009;Goldingay & Boddy, 2017;Goldingay & Land, 2014;Maple, Jarrott, & Bawa Kuyini, 2013;Oliaro & Trotter, 2010).…”