The Effectiveness of Mutual Aid Learning Communities in Online MSW Practice Courses

Online social work education has grown rapidly in recent years, and practice courses now are frequently taught online. The present study contributes to the growing body of knowledge regarding best practices in online social work education by examining the effects of small-group learning communities on student learning and on student satisfaction in an online MSW practice course. Findings indicate that online MSW students participating in learning communities viewed the learning communities as useful, had higher levels of student satisfaction with the course, and demonstrated greater learning of course content than online MSW students participating only on one general discussion board.