Teaching Note—Taking Social Work Undergraduates Inside: The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

ABSTRACT

The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is an experiential learning program that involves teaching college courses inside correctional facilitates to classes that include incarcerated and nonincarcerated students. This teaching note describes the program and argues that its congruence with social work values makes it a valuable tool for preparing students to take on social justice work. The impact of the program’s pedagogy and structure on students’ and faculty’s capacity for critical thinking and self-reflection is described. Logistical issues to consider in developing programs are discussed.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Southern Connecticut State University Curriculum Related Project Grant and Scholarship Re-assign Time from the School of Health and Human Services.

Notes on contributors

Amy B. Smoyer

Amy B. Smoyer is Assistant Professor at Southern Connecticut State University.