Enhancing New Media Literacies of Social Work Students through a Participatory Learning Environment

Abstract

Social workers must have the requisite new media literacies to engage in social work practice in the modern digital age and increase their digital competence. This article demonstrates how students can obtain the necessary digital competencies for their future social work practice through an enhanced participatory learning environment based on 12 specific new media literacies situated in a master’s level macro social work practice course. A description of the learning assignments and participatory activities is provided along with results from a mixed-methods evaluation of the student’s experiences. Findings indicate statistically significant results in increasing new media literacies among students and that participatory learning activities enhanced student knowledge and skills. Discussion and implications related to new media literacies and the future of social work education are also provided.

Keywords:

• Digital literacy
• new media literacies
• evaluation
• education
• social media