Social Work and Simulations

Know about the book -

Social Work and Simulations is written by Associate Dean for Engagement Diversity Equity and Inclusion Kevin Tan and published by Oxford University Press. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 0197770460 (ISBN 10) and 9780197770467 (ISBN 13).

"Drawing on five-years of work and research on simulated learning experiences with actors, this book describes their implementation in social work classes on social work practice, policy, and research in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). PhD students took the lead in developing and implementing many simulations, worked with instructors to tie the simulations to learning objectives, and facilitated student discussion and reflection. Emphasis was given to understanding social work competencies in the context of issues of social injustice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Staged in simulation house, in classrooms, in a library setting and online, the simulations included a collaboration with the UIUC police and with librarians at UIUC and the University of Washington, Tacoma. The book describes how brave spaces were created to facilitate difficult conversations, sharing, and reflections rather than grading performance. Challenges included resource and time constraints, concerns about re-traumatizing students or stereotyping experiences, and reluctance to include simulations in social work classes. It provides an immersive learning experience for students and instructors alike; simulations emerge as a paradigm shift in social work education as it allows them to become more alive and accountable to the multifaceted, complex, and human elements of social work practice. The text includes a wealth of case studies and material to build ethical simulations in practice"--