Podcasting for social justice: exploring the potential of experiential and transformative teaching and learning through social work podcasts

This paper examines the role of podcasting in teaching and learning for social justice, especially within schools of social work. Using a critical pedagogical teaching and learning lens within social work education, we explored the engagement of entry level Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students in learning about and creating podcasts. Students simultaneously developed social work skills such as critical thinking, understanding theory, current issues of social (in)justice, and community engagement. In the process of creating podcasts, students (1) began to develop their professional and generalist social work identity, (2) engaged with critical reflective practice, and (3) made links between structural and experiential issues related to social policy and social justice. In addition to having implications for critical social work pedagogy, we suggest that student-led podcasting can be used to promote a relationship between the academy and the community.