The purpose of this project is to design, facilitate and evaluate a new second year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) course at Wilfrid Laurier University:Communication and Interviewing Skills. This course will embed the pedagogy of simulation-based learning to allow BSW students to prepare for their third-year practice courses and field placements. Students will actively learn about and practice their interviewing, communication, and assessment skills through simulation role plays, observation, and reflection. The objectives are to support students in developing their comfort and confidence with interviewing techniques, alliance building, and assessment processes in the context of direct social work practice with service users.
Students’ skills and learning will be evaluated through questionnaires administered before and after each simulation. Students will also be invited to reflect on their learning experiences and participate in focus groups at the end of the semester. The results of this study will inform revisions to the course, and knowledge will be shared with the university communities through workshops, presentations and publications.
FUNDED BY:
Laurier Instructional Development Project Grant, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2020