Social Work Educators’ Opportunities During COVID-19: A Roadmap for Trauma-Informed Teaching During Crisis

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ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 resulted in major disruption for social work education, as many teachers and programs shifted from on-campus classes to remote or blended teaching using digital technologies. Social work educators have an opportunity to apply the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the needs of students and communities in ways that are grounded in our professional values. Due to the pandemic, many students and faculty were learning and teaching via online education for the first time and managing personal and community trauma. The purpose of this article is to provide social work educators with a practical, theory-informed approach that supports an unexpected switch to crisis teaching in times of extended crisis, to maintain quality education, and move toward best practices gleaned from trauma-informed approaches. We describe theoretical frameworks that can inform educational practices and decision making in times of disruption. Then we offer trauma-informed teaching and learning principles and technology-mediated strategies for best practices in crisis course design and delivery. We share practical strategies for the delivery of social work education that are especially needed in times of disruption.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock is an associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Johanna Creswell Báez is an assistant professor in social work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Melanie Sage is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Matthea Marquart is the assistant dean of online education at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Kaitlyn Lewis is a MSW student at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. Nancy J. Smyth is professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.

Melanie Sage

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock is an associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Johanna Creswell Báez is an assistant professor in social work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Melanie Sage is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Matthea Marquart is the assistant dean of online education at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Kaitlyn Lewis is a MSW student at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. Nancy J. Smyth is professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.

Matthea Marquart

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock is an associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Johanna Creswell Báez is an assistant professor in social work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Melanie Sage is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Matthea Marquart is the assistant dean of online education at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Kaitlyn Lewis is a MSW student at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. Nancy J. Smyth is professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.

Kaitlyn Lewis

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock is an associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Johanna Creswell Báez is an assistant professor in social work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Melanie Sage is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Matthea Marquart is the assistant dean of online education at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Kaitlyn Lewis is a MSW student at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. Nancy J. Smyth is professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.

Nancy J. Smyth

Laurel Iverson Hitchcock is an associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Johanna Creswell Báez is an assistant professor in social work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Melanie Sage is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Matthea Marquart is the assistant dean of online education at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Kaitlyn Lewis is a MSW student at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Youth Service Provider at Pathways, Inc. Nancy J. Smyth is professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.