Teaching Note—Virtual Practice Fridays: Responding to Disruptions Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Field and Classroom

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ABSTRACT

Preparing students for social work practice is an important responsibility shared by field education and schools of social work. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to social work practice training and education in the classroom and field. This teaching note describes an online simulation-based learning activity known as Virtual Practice Fridays that was adapted from an in-person activity in response to the pandemic. Virtual Practice Fridays was a 10-week seminar for two cohorts of master of social work students, each facilitated by two PhD students who were supervised by a faculty member. Master of social work students developed holistic competence, including knowledge, skills, and self-awareness, as they met with two simulated clients over several sessions. Students described unique features of this simulation-based learning activity that supported their learning, such as working with clients virtually, having an opportunity to see simulated clients for several sessions from assessment to termination, and being able to use the time completed at Virtual Practice Fridays toward fulfillment of practicum hours. This was a new experience for the doctoral students and faculty member, and it permitted us to reflect on how to effectively teach students about social work practice. Implications for social work practice and education are discussed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Recording was voluntary and only occurred when students gave consent to be recorded; students only received a recording of their own interview segment.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Toula Kourgiantakis

Toula Kourgiantakis, PhD, RSW, CCFT, is an assistant professor, Teaching Stream, with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Ran Hu, MSW, MA, is a doctoral candidate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Susan Ramsundarsingh, PhD, RSW, is a social worker in Toronto. Yu Lung, MSW, MSc, is a doctoral candidate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Keri J. West, MSW, is a doctoral candidate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.