Abstract

Over the years, social workers have been utilizing technology to deliver services to communicate with and gather information about clients. However, published academic research highlights some resistance to the use of digital technologies within professional practice and supervision. Furthermore, a review of the current literature shows that there are clear differences in perceptions about the use of technologies and the use of eLearning in the higher education, academic contexts. When comparing perceptions in the USA and Spain, the literature shows that technology has been more widely adopted by social work programs in the US than by their Spanish counterparts. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the imperative need for the use of digital and technology skills in social work education to the forefront. This research study’s primary focus is to identify current perceptions of using digital technologies in social work education and practice through the lens of a digital competence framework. The research study has employed a quantitative, non-experimental design with convenient sampling. A comparative two-country case study (Spain and the US) provides an in-depth analysis of these perceptions. The research study was conducted with social work undergraduate and graduate students, their field instructors, and field liaisons, who were active in the social work field during the pandemic. The paper compares and contrasts the perceptions from the two countries regarding the use of technology and digital competencies; and provides recommendations for teaching, practice, and further research for social work and related disciplines.

Presenters

Laura Racovita
Professor of Social Work/ Dean, Social Work, Southern Adventist University, Tennessee, United States

Linda Reeser
Professor, Social Work, Western Michigan University, Michigan, United States

Domingo Carbonero Munoz
Professor, Law, University of La Rioja, La Rioja, Spain

Mioara Diaconu
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Western Michigan University, Michigan, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Designing Social Transformations

KEYWORDS

Digital Competencies, Social Work Education, Transformative Education

Digital Media

This presenter hasn’t added media.
Request media and follow this presentation.