Preparing for ICT enhanced practice learning opportunities in 2010—a speculative view

Abstract

This paper presents a speculative view of the roles that a practice teacher, student and university may undertake during a practice learning opportunity in the year 2010, based upon predicted advances in information and communication technology (ICT). The article explores the likelihood of such a scenario becoming a reality by examining very briefly current developments in the area of wireless mobile devices and infrastructure. The paper presents an argument drawing on the author’s own experiences that passive acceptance or ignorance through apprehension of ICT developments should not prevent the examination and planning of how this medium may be utilised in the arena of social work in the future. This paper acts as a scenario‐planning device, presenting for discussion some of the issues that may need to be explored if ICT is to become positively integrated into the field of social work education.

Keywords:

• Practice Learning
• Scenario Planning
• Electronic Learning
• Mobile Communications
• ICT
• Internet

Notes

Correspondence to: Tarsem Singh Cooner, eLearning Manager, Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Tel: + 44 (0)121 414 8184; Fax: + 44 (0)121 414 5726; Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tarsem Singh Cooner

Correspondence to: Tarsem Singh Cooner, eLearning Manager, Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Tel: + 44 (0)121 414 8184; Fax: + 44 (0)121 414 5726; Email: [email protected]