1st Edition

Active Learning Lessons, Activities, and Assignments for the Modern Social Work Educator

By Karen Zgoda Copyright 2023
410 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

410 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

410 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This text infuses the field of social work with dynamic and evidence-based active learning, offering fresh ideas to increase students’ abilities to effectively implement their social work practice. To practice social work in the real world, students need to be energized and engaged with the realities of the modern social work landscape. Written in an accessible and practical style, the... Read more

Chapter 1 History of Social Work Practice

Dana B. Marlowe, PhD, LCSW

Charity Organization Society Workers Vs. Settlement House Workers Debate

White House Conference on the Care of Dependent Children Simulation

Chapter 2 Ethics

Kathryn Peterson, MSW

Difficult Conversations

Michelle Sunkel, DSW, LICSW, LAC, MBE

Anti-Racism Experience and Leaning-In Assignment

Antiracist Literature Review and Action Plan Assignment

Opportunities for White People

Chapter 3 Communication

Fredi Giesler, MSW, Ph.D.

Managing Group Conflict Simulation

Chapter 4 Clinical Practice

Kathryn Peterson, MSW

In-Depth Case Analysis

Dana B. Marlowe, PhD, LCSW

Groupwork Skills Role-Play

Using Activities in a Therapeutic Group

Tami Micsky, DSW, LSW, CT

Life Change Loss Interview Assignment

Elspeth Slayter, MSW, Ph.D.

Evidence-based Practice Dialogue

Choosing an Evidence-based Practice with Scarce Resources

Dana B. Marlowe, PhD, LCSW & Elisabeth Cannata, Ph.D.

Home Visits Role-Plays

Elaine S. Rinfrette, RN, MSW, PhD, LCSW & Natalie M. Montero, MSW

Week 1 - Safety and Self-Care

Week 2 - Understanding Trauma-Informed Care

Week 3 - Working with Trauma Survivors in General Practice

Week 4 - The Neurobiology of Trauma

Week 5 – Quiz

Elaine S. Rinfrette, RN, MSW, PhD, LCSW & David Pugh, MSW, Ph.D.

Week 1 - Is addiction a disease or a choice?

Week 2 – Stigma

Week 3 - Defense Mechanisms and Stages of Change

Week 4 - The Family

Week 5 - Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment

Carla Sofka, Ph.D., MSW

Advance Directives (Advance Care Planning)

Defining a "Good Death" / Facilitating Conversations about End of Life Planning

Options for Final Disposition (Scavenger Hunt / Discussion)

Chapter 5 Macro Practice

Fredi Giesler, MSW, Ph.D.

Facilitating a Collaborative/Interprofessional Task Group

Elissa Thomann Mitchell, Ph.D.

Social Policy Online Debate Assignment

Policy in the News Assignment

Who Represents You? Assignment

Community Meeting or Event Reflection Assignment

Elspeth Slayter, MSW, Ph.D.

Community-based Disability Accessibility Assessment

Developing a Sexuality Policy and Procedures Manual for a Group Home

Legislative Advocacy Assignment

Michelle Sunkel, DSW, LICSW, LAC, MBE

Forensic Social Work and Experiential Assignment

Chapter 6 Fundraising and Social Work Administration

Fredi Giesler, MSW, Ph.D.

Preparing for Job Performance Feedback

Presenting Client Progress Using SOAP

Presenting to a Board of Directors or Policy Decision-making Group

Patricia Welch Saleeby, PhD, MSSA

Macro Change Through Fundraising

The Grant Review Process

Understanding the Relevance of Grants and Fundraisers Assignment

Grant Writing - The Needs Statement Assignment

Chapter 7 Research & Evaluation

Jesse Capece, Ph.D.

Ways of Knowing

Research Concept Maps

Operationalization

Survey Construction

Analyze Qualitative Data

Research Proposal Assignment

Elspeth Slayter, MSW, Ph.D.

Agency Evaluation Practice Assessment

Chapter 8 Social Work Technology

Jennifer M. Frank, PhD, LSW

Online and Technology Enhanced Assignment

Thomas P. Felke, Ph.D., MSW

Introduction to Digital Mapping

Introduction to Static Online Mapping

Using the Census Data Mapper

Using PolicyMap to Spatially Explore Data

Introduction to Geocoding with BatchGeo

GIS-Supported Community Assessment

Dana B. Marlowe, Ph.D., LCSW & Gregory Acevedo, Ph.D.

Digital Advocacy Campaign

Chapter 9 Social Justice and Activism

Dana B. Marlowe, Ph.D., LCSW

Social Justice Issues - Digital Storytelling Assignment

Elissa Thomann Mitchell, Ph.D.

Cultural Competence Community Meeting or Event Reflection Assignment

Kathryn Peterson, MSW

Identifying Implicit Bias

Chapter 10 What to Do After Graduation

Ellen Fink-Samnick MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CCTP, CMHIMP, CRP, DBH(c)

Identify Strengths

Understand Professional Competencies

Develop Mission and Vision Statements

Build a Professional Brand

Promote a Professional Brand

Narrated Presentation: Professional Branding

Chapter 11 Self-Care

Tami Micsky, DSW, LSW, CT

Self-Care for Social Work Students

Photovoice for Social Work Practice & Research

Photovoice Self-Care Assignment

Biography

Karen Zgoda, LMSW, is Director of the Care Center at Villa Maria College. She has vast experience in social work, social work technology, higher education, and course development.

"Active learning exercises are an important part of professional social work education but creating good ones is difficult and time-consuming. Fortunately, Karen Zgoda’s new book gives instructors a wealth of useful and well developed exercises, nicely organized and keyed to critical areas of the curriculum. This book is a must-have for social work faculty but would be useful to faculty in other fields as well."

-John McNutt, PhD, MSW; Professor, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware

"Active learning is a fundamental instructional approach to helping students critically engage in thoughtful intellectual discourse designed to maximize student’s ability to apply and transfer knowledge. Karen Zgoda’s new book, Active Learning Lessons, Activities, and Assignments for the Modern Social Work Educator, provides social work faculty with a myriad of useful tools that can easily be applied to promote critical thinking about the application of social work principles to research, policy and practice." 

-Tanya L. Sharpe, MSW, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, Endowed Chair in Social Work in the Global Community; Founder & Director, The CRIB, https://www.the-crib.org; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

"Great book for social work educators across the curriculum who are looking for creative and engaging activities. Reflects important core knowledge, value and skill areas beautifully—with an eye on the future. Strong foundation that would be easy to put one's own touches or weave in local priorities or concerns." 

-Laura Nissen, Ph.D., Professor, Portland State University; P.I. Social Work Health Futures Lab

"Karen Zgoda’s latest book, Active Learning Lessons, Activities, and Assignments for the Modern Social Work Educator is far more than a standard academic text. The fluid nature of the health and behavioral health industry are only eclipsed by the myriad of roles and opportunities for social work professionals. Preparing the next generation of the workforce for these roles takes a novel approach by educators and Zgoda supports that action!

By identifying critical touchpoints for the next generation, Zgoda provides a robust social work curriculum with practical lesson plans. This book goes where none have ventured, from ethical communication, anti-racist practices, and technology application to fundraising, activism, and research alignment. Focus is on balancing self-care with the rigors of practice realities, as well as defining professional competencies and branding for entrepreneurial roles. The book leverages the ability of educators to ensure a dynamic (virtual or in-person) classroom experience for students, while providing social workers necessary didactic and practical information to solidify a successful career trajectory."

- Ellen Fink-Samnick, LCSW, ACSW, CCM, CCTP, CRP, DBH-C; EFS Supervision Strategies, LLC; author; educator, and entrepreneur