Making it Real: Socially Just Simulation for Transforming Social Work Education

Authors

  • Justin Canty University of Tasmania
  • Joselynn Baltra-Ulloa University of Tasmania
  • Campbell Tickner University of Tasmania
  • Jacob Prehn
  • Milena Heinsch University of Tasmania

Keywords:

Social work pedagogy, social justice, simulated learning, sustainability, Indigenisation, decolonisation, Intersectionality

Abstract

Simulation is a well-established experiential learning approach in social work education that allows students to explore and practise new skills in a controlled and supportive environment prior to real-world application. Emerging research suggests that simulation learning can support students to engage with, and embody, social justice values in their practice. Yet, to date, few studies have examined the use of simulation to help students understand and apply social justice principles and disrupt business-as-usual practices which contribute to oppression. Designing and implementing simulations that are socially just is a critical responsibility for social work educators. Without adequate application of social justice values in the development and running of simulation learning experiences, there is a risk of inadvertently reproducing social norms that perpetuate discrimination, marginalisation, and stigma. Reinforcing such norms in simulations negatively impacts students and educators from marginalised backgrounds and limits opportunities for social justice-oriented learning. In this article, we describe the concept of “socially just simulation” and provide examples and tensions from our teaching practice to illustrate how simulation learning can foster critical consciousness among social work students concerning issues such as decolonisation, intersectionality, and regenerative practice. We conclude by considering how simulation design can draw on knowledges that disrupt stereotypes, resist discrimination, and facilitate collaborative responses to real-world issues, offering new insights on the potential for simulated learning to realise the transformational mission of social work.

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Published

2025-01-15