Role Plays to Enhance Readiness for Practicum: Perceptions of Graduate & Undergraduate Social Work Students

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

Y

15

Caseworkers; Social Work; Graduate Students; Undergraduate Students; Student Attitudes; Role Playing; Readiness; Practicums; Program Effectiveness; Teacher Student Relationship; Experiential Learning; Foreign Countries; Perspective Taking; Feedback (Response); Supervisors; Interpersonal Relationship; Anxiety

10.1080/10437797.2021.1957735

1043-7797
2163-5811

Although field education is considered the signature pedagogy of social work education, there is a paucity of research examining how Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) and foundation year-Masters of Social Work (FY-MSW) students perceive strategies designed to prepare them for field placement. To enhance readiness for practicum, an interactive role play activity was introduced to BSW and FY-MSW students, and their perspectives of the activity were elicited using focus groups. A thematic analysis of the transcripts resulted in five themes: enhanced perspective-taking, "we have a voice", reflections on supervisory relationship, pressure to excel in student role, and opportunity to practice in a safe space. The findings provide guidance for implementing pre-practicum activities appropriate to students' level of education and training.

As Provided

2023

EJ1371344