Agology, Animation, Conscientization: Implications for Social Work Education in the USA

Abstract

This paper explores three new approaches to an understanding of social work — agology, animation, and conscientization — as presented by a Dutch, French, and Chilean scholar respectively. The differences between these approaches and those in use in the United States are explored Agology is concerned with what we know, animation with what we can do, and conscientization with what we will be. The paper concludes that the use of any of these three concepts in the curriculum would make a significant difference in what we would expect students and faculty to know and do.