Enhancing social work education: a praxis-based teaching case study on integrating simulation through experiential learning theory

This teaching case study takes the reader through a Master in Social Work (MSW) practice course in a northeast city during the 2022-2023 academic year. With the receipt of a small teaching grant, virtual simulation activities were embedded into the course using Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory and the 2022 Educational Accreditation and Policy Standards (EPAS), which assess anti-racist social work practice. Process recordings allowed for reflective practice, and multiple opportunities for debriefing and feedback were embedded throughout the semester. As the social work profession contends with a changing field education environment post-Coronavirus-19, we must find pedagogical strategies to support skill development in the classroom. This paper recommends using Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) as a blueprint for integrating simulation into the practice curriculum to prepare students for praxis.