Search

The literature is increasingly drawing attention to the gap between feedback "given" to students and feedback "used" by students. This paper reflects on the beginnings of an evaluation into the potential of peer assessment to act as a vehicle to enable students to make use of the feedback they receive. A case study is presented within an action research paradigm outlining the introduction of a peer formative assessment process. Current findings highlight the importance of appreciating the emotional as well as the cognitive aspects of peer learning and suggest that cultural shifts at programme level may be required for peer assessment to be most effective.

Social work students are being educated during a time of major socio-economic change with the financial relationship between the university and society currently being reconfigured. This is occurring alongside a rapid expansion in the availability of technological mediums that offer the opportunity for alternative methods of teaching delivery. Moving towards technologically enhanced methods of teaching delivery may be sought as one way of improving student learning whilst reducing staffing costs in a time of financial austerity. Podcasting, for example, is becoming a more commonplace activity within higher educational institutions (HEIs) and used for a variety of different reasons, although the evaluation of using such methods of delivery and its impact on student learning is in its infancy. This paper outlines some of the current issues involved and begins to explore them via an evaluation of the use of podcast lectures on one social work programme. Current findings highlight the importance of appreciating the socio-emotional as well as the cognitive aspects of student learning. This study suggests that podcasts have potential benefit educationally but their use within HEIs needs to be appreciated within a broader context where contra-indicators for the use of such technology are also considered in relation to professional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving towards delivering the new social work qualification led to many social work programmes considering the 'fitness for purpose' of assessment methods being used to assess the competence of social work students. This article highlights how changes in assessment methods were considered on one particular social work programme. The advantages and disadvantages of three particular assessment methods in relation to professional practice are debated here. Discussions emanating from these considerations and subsequent changes made to the programme are highlighted. The specific focus is on the experience of one particular social work programme which is used as a case study to illustrate issues of general relevance in social work education. It is intended that the reflections presented in this article will contribute to this broader arena of learning and teaching for professional practice taking place and continuing beyond the introduction of the new qualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social work degree has now been introduced in England and it is timely to reflect on and evaluate key changes made by many universities in this process. This paper reflects on the beginning of such an evaluation, presenting a case study of assessment changes made in relation to communication skills teaching in a post-1992 university. This will act as a vehicle to explore some of the inherent complexities involved. Assessment methods implemented on social work courses should be scrutinized in relation to their validity, reliability and feasibility. Drawing upon multi-professional literature, one such process of scrutiny is described, with the intention of contributing to current debates regarding communication skills within the wider arena of developing social work education. The case study presented outlines how one social work programme changed its method of assessing communication skills for social work students. It explores the processes involved in moving from an essay assignment to the use of video interviews, supplemented by a written reflective self-evaluation undertaken in relation to the interview process. The views of students are outlined via their responses to a questionnaire and the paper highlights key themes identified by a student focus group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]