Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course
Regardless of their particular field of practice, social workers increasingly serve the growing population of older adults in the United States. This article describes the process of integrating an experiential component into a Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) course involving 75 BSW students. Reflec...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2016-11-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016679711 |
| _version_ | 1818304829457432576 |
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| author | Jimmy A. Young Justin S. Lee Pamela J. Kovacs |
| author_facet | Jimmy A. Young Justin S. Lee Pamela J. Kovacs |
| author_sort | Jimmy A. Young |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Regardless of their particular field of practice, social workers increasingly serve the growing population of older adults in the United States. This article describes the process of integrating an experiential component into a Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) course involving 75 BSW students. Reflections on the strengths and challenges during 3 years of the course and a successful sustainability strategy are discussed. Three methods of curriculum infusion were added to a required course: (a) guest speakers, (b) required volunteer hours, and (c) written reflections and class presentations. We discovered that students’ attitudes toward working with older adults were changed following their experience in this course. Cognizant of the difficulty introducing additional hours and content to a full course agenda, we advocate for curriculum change that includes an experiential component together with classroom discussion and activities. We provide details of our process of implementation and sustainability that might help guide similar course adaptations to increase BSW student exposure to working with older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:16:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59bdd18f83fd4480acdaa1bb82b5e990 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-2440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:16:55Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-59bdd18f83fd4480acdaa1bb82b5e9902022-12-21T23:56:56ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402016-11-01610.1177/215824401667971110.1177_2158244016679711Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW CourseJimmy A. Young0Justin S. Lee1Pamela J. Kovacs2California State University San Marcos, USAIdaho State University, Pocatello, USAVirginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USARegardless of their particular field of practice, social workers increasingly serve the growing population of older adults in the United States. This article describes the process of integrating an experiential component into a Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) course involving 75 BSW students. Reflections on the strengths and challenges during 3 years of the course and a successful sustainability strategy are discussed. Three methods of curriculum infusion were added to a required course: (a) guest speakers, (b) required volunteer hours, and (c) written reflections and class presentations. We discovered that students’ attitudes toward working with older adults were changed following their experience in this course. Cognizant of the difficulty introducing additional hours and content to a full course agenda, we advocate for curriculum change that includes an experiential component together with classroom discussion and activities. We provide details of our process of implementation and sustainability that might help guide similar course adaptations to increase BSW student exposure to working with older adults.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016679711 |
| spellingShingle | Jimmy A. Young Justin S. Lee Pamela J. Kovacs Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course SAGE Open |
| title | Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course |
| title_full | Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course |
| title_fullStr | Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course |
| title_full_unstemmed | Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course |
| title_short | Creating and Sustaining an Experiential Learning Component on Aging in a BSW Course |
| title_sort | creating and sustaining an experiential learning component on aging in a bsw course |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016679711 |
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