by
Robin
Mama
Associate
Professor
Monmouth
University
Department
of Social Work
Cedar
Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 USA
social
work supervision, online course
This
presentation provides an overview of a graduate social work supervision class
presented in two formats: the traditional class with web-enhancement, and an
online course. Research findings
from a pre-and pos-test conducted with the students will also be presented.
Social work education has definitely entered the technological arena.
Distance education has been in use for several years, and research has
been conducted comparing student learning between the traditional classroom and
distance education (Chute et.al., 1988; Cunningham, 1988; Douglass, 1989; Kabot
& Friedel, 1990). While social
work education has taken a slower approach to distance education, the use of
this medium is growing (Conklin & Osterndorf, 1995). Less has been written
about the use of the Internet as an instructional medium in social work,
although several articles have begun to report initial experiences with courses
taught over the internet (Stocks & Freddolino, 1988; Schoech, 2000).
Students in a graduate social work elective, Supervision in Social Work,
were pre-tested at the beginning of the semester on their attitudes towards the
use of technology and the internet in social work. (The pre-and post-tests used in this study were used with
permission of Professor Dick Schoech, based on his research published in 2000).
The students were then given a choice of class format: a traditional class with
web enhancement, or an online course. Of
the total of 15 students enrolled, five students chose the traditional format;
10 chose the online format. The
class was conducted in both mediums, and a post-test was administered at the end
of the semester.
This informational presentation will provide details about the class, the
web enhancement of the class, student experiences and research results.
Chute,
A., L. Balthazar, C. Poston. 1988. Learning
from teletraining. American Journal
of Distance Education 2(3): 55-63.
Conklin,
J.J. and W. Osterndorf. 1995. Distance
learning in continuing social work education: promise of the year 2000. Journal
of Continuing Social Work Education 6(3):13-17.
Cunningham,
B.M. 1988. The telecourse as an
alternative to a traditional in-class accounting course.
Community and Junior College Quarterly 12(3):205-12.
Douglas,
P.J. 1989. Effectiveness of interactive satellite delivery versus traditional
delivery in selected courses. Annual
Conference of Teaching at a Distance. University of Wisconson.
Kabat,
E. and J. Friedel. 1990. The
development, pilot-testing, and dissemination of a comprehensive evaluation
model for assessing the effectiveness of a two-way interactive distance learning
system. ERIC 332690.
Schoech,
D. 2000. Teaching over the internet: results of one doctoral course. Research on
Social Work Practice 10(4):467-486.
Stocks,
J.T. and P. Freddolino. 1998. Evaluation of a world wide web-based graduate
social work research methods course. Computers
in Human Services 15:51-69.