Leadership and Social Work Education in the Online Environment
Keywords:
Social work education, Online education, Distance education, Pedagogy, Accreditation standards, AustraliaAbstract
Australian universities have been offering qualifying degrees in social work to students at a distance for almost three decades. While proponents have argued that this has increased access to higher education, there remains strong opposition within sections of the social work community. Reflecting on her experiences of providing social work education at a distance over the past two decades, the author argues that some of the critiques offered are based on outdated understandings as to what distance education can be, particularly utilising online technologies. It is also noted that many traditional on-campus programs are introducing online technologies into their teaching, and that previous distinctions between distance education and on-campus education are increasingly blurred. Rather than accepting the suggestion that leadership in social work education means actively proscribing online learning, particularly in the area of teaching interpersonal skills, it is proposed that leadership in social work education involves ensuring learning outcomes are not compromised and that graduates are prepared for practice in the digital era.
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