(1883)COMPUTER-BASED SIMULATION IN SOCIAL WORK TRAINING: ADEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONCERNING CHILD PROTECTIONSERVICES

摘要

One of the major challenges involved in social work education is how to create realistic environmentsin which students can practice necessary skills without risking the welfare of clients. Different types ofsimulations, such as case-based learning and role-play, have been used for many years to enablestudents to gain a deeper understanding of the processes and challenges involved in professionalsocial work. However, the possibility of using computer-based simulations has not yet been exploredin any depth. This study will present an on-going project that aims to create a computer basedsimulation through which students can gain a more realistic understanding of social workers’assessments of families and children at risk. ICT applications are often employed in this type ofassessment today. In spite of attempts to use these methods to achieve a better structure andorganization of family and child assessments, European research indicates that large discrepanciesremain between assessments made by different social workers. The aim of our development projectfor social work training is to create a computer based simulation that will give students greaterunderstanding of the assessment process and the tools available, as well as encouraging them tomake a critical appraisal of the different phases of an assessment.