COMPUTER-BASED SIMULATION IN SOCIAL WORK TRAINING: A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONCERNING CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

One of the major challenges involved in social work education is how to create realistic environments in which students can practice necessary skills without risking the welfare of clients. Different types of simulations, such as case-based learning and role-play, have been used for many years to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the processes and challenges involved in professional social work. However, the possibility of using computer-based simulations has not yet been explored in any depth. This study will present an on-going project that aims to create a computer based simulation through which students can gain a more realistic understanding of social workers' assessments of families and children at risk. ICT applications are often employed in this type of assessment today. In spite of attempts to use these methods to achieve a better structure and organization of family and child assessments, European research indicates that large discrepancies remain between assessments made by different social workers. The aim of our development project for social work training is to create a computer based simulation that will give students greater understanding of the assessment process and the tools available, as well as encouraging them to make a critical appraisal of the different phases of an assessment.