The Use of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) Within a Constructivist Learning Environment to Develop Core Competencies in Social Work

Abstract

Achieving foundation-level practice behaviors to develop social work core competencies involves integrating learning across a curriculum. This article focuses on two phases of foundation-level course redevelopment aimed to support graduate students in accomplishing this outcome. The first phase involved restructuring the course to become a constructivist learning environment. The second phase involved the use of cultural historical activity theory to assess this environment and design additional components to better address student needs.

Keywords:

• constructivist
• competency-based
• course development
• active learning
• diversity

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks go to Dr. Maxine P. Atkinson for the matrix assignment concept, and Graduate Research Assistants D. D. Gullick IV and M. C. Torr for assistance with data analysis. A Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Grant from the Office of Faculty Development at North Carolina State University funded part of this course development project. This article includes material presented at the 57^th and 58^th Council of Social Work Education Annual Program Meetings in 2011 and 2012, and the North Carolina State University Teaching and Learning Symposium in 2011.