The effects of a sensitization technique on stereotyping behavior

In order to fulfill the inherent obligation of social work educators to teach about racial and ethnic diversity and to reduce the incidence of prejudice and stereotyping, it is helpful to increase students' and practitioners' sensitivity and awareness of their own and others' biases. Strategies and techniques to accomplish this task are greatly needed. Group discussion triggered by an active learning technique is an effective way of addressing this need. Such a technique was successfully implemented in two sections of a first semester graduate social work class. This article describes that technique and its effectiveness.