1st Edition
Active Learning Lessons, Activities, and Assignments for the Modern Social Work Educator
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 impressive array of contributors provide social work educators with structured lesson plans, practice exercises, and assignments that can be used in both the physical and virtual classroom. Combining the latest research with current social work practice trends, the chapters cover cutting-edge topics such as ethics, social work technology, the importance of self-care, and social justice and activism, bridging the gap between current social work education and the needs of the modern social work student.
This book is invaluable reading for both social work educators and their students, providing tools to seamlessly integrate innovative techniques into the classroom as well as helping their students navigate a career in social work after graduation.
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
