Social Work Education During COVID-19: Students’ Perceptions of the Challenges and Opportunities of Online and Blended Learning

Authors

  • Tia Simanovic University of Strathclyde
  • Ionuţ Cioarţă University of Strathclyde
  • Cara Jardine University of Strathclyde
  • Sally Paul University of Strathclyde

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48336/IJAMQT9887

Keywords:

distance delivery, blended learning, focus groups, “suitability” of a social work program online

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, educators have needed to rapidly adapt the ways of delivering study materials to facilitate learning for university students. This article discusses the findings from a series of focus groups conducted with social work students to explore their perceptions of the move towards online and blended learning and teaching. It reports on their initial apprehensions, summarized in four key findings: (a) interactions with staff, (b) a sense of community, (c) assessments, and (d) opportunities to grow. Although these consultations occurred prior to the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year, students’ accounts raise important questions about ways in which feelings of belonging to a learning community can be cultivated and sustained as blended approaches to learning and teaching become more embedded in social work training. The article concludes by highlighting the need for ongoing considerations around creating a sense of community in an inclusive, supportive, and sustainable way. In so doing, it underlines the value that intersectional and critical research can add to these discussions as a means of promoting social justice in social work education.

Author Biographies

Tia Simanovic, University of Strathclyde

Tia Simanovic is a PhD student in criminology at the University of Strathclyde. While her research examines prisoners’ experiences of bereavement prior to and/or during custody, she also tutors for the Social Work and Social Policy departments. Her master’s degree is in criminal justice, whereby she conducted a quantitative evaluation of a juvenile detention centre. Tia’s research interests revolve around prisons and corrections.

Ionuţ Cioarţă, University of Strathclyde

Ionuţ Cioarţă is a PhD candidate with the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde. Previously, he earned his BA and MA degrees in social work, both from the University of Bucharest, Romania. Ionuţ’s research interests lie in social work activism, online activism, and the Roma community. 

Cara Jardine, University of Strathclyde

Cara Jardine is a senior lecturer in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde. Her research is concerned with questions of power and inequality, and she is particularly interested in the impact of imprisonment on people, families, and communities.

Sally Paul, University of Strathclyde

Sally Paul is a senior lecturer in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde and is currently the course lead for the undergraduate social work program. Her research focuses on community resilience, particularly in relation to the loss and bereavement experiences of marginalized groups.

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Published

2021-12-13