The movement of social work education online during a pandemic: Lessons learned
Abstract
During the pandemic in the Winter of 2020, social work programs forced movement from onground to online teaching platforms for safety reasons. This study investigated social work faculty's perceptions of the forced movement to online teaching, including the challenges, resources, and lessons learned. Social media sites and a social work listserve were utilized to recruit participants. A total of 92 participants responded to an online survey that gathered their experiences moving content online and supporting sources. Results indicated that most elements of social work courses were not difficult for faculty to move online. Content that was perceived as more difficult to move online was group work and role-plays. Faculty also described sources of support as colleagues, department, and the university. Qualitative data collected from open-ended questions highlighted experiences of transitioning classes online that were outside of the actual content movement. The results highlighted the learning curve of technology, student engagement, university flexibility, and working at home. This study adds insight into the state of social work education during a pandemic.