Social Workers Can e-Learn: Evaluation of a Pilot Post-Qualifying e-Learning Course in Research Methods and Critical Appraisal Skills for Social Workers.

Social workers are increasingly encouraged to become research minded and integrate research findings into their practice. However, there is a paucity of high-quality accessible training for social workers in research methods and critical appraisal skills. We developed an e-learning version of an MSc...

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Published in:Social Work Education Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 48 - 67
Main Authors: Webber, Martin, Currin, Laura, Groves, Nicola, Hay, David, Fernando, Nicholas
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Feb2010
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        10.1080/02615470902838745
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        atl: Social Workers Can e-Learn: Evaluation of a Pilot Post-Qualifying e-Learning Course in Research Methods and Critical Appraisal Skills for Social Workers.
      aug:
        au:
          Webber, Martin
          Currin, Laura
          Groves, Nicola
          Hay, David
          Fernando, Nicholas
        affil: King's College London, UK
      su:
        Social workers
        Evidence-based social work
        Online education
        Research methodology
        Pilot projects
        Concept mapping
      sug:
        subj:
          Social workers
          Evidence-based social work
          Online education
          Research methodology
          Pilot projects
          Concept mapping
      keyword:
        Critical Appraisal Skills
        e-Learning
        Evidence-Based Practice
        Post-Qualifying Education
        Research Methods
        Critical Appraisal Skills
        e-Learning
        Evidence-Based Practice
        Post-Qualifying Education
        Research Methods
      ab: Social workers are increasingly encouraged to become research minded and integrate research findings into their practice. However, there is a paucity of high-quality accessible training for social workers in research methods and critical appraisal skills. We developed an e-learning version of an MSc degree module to widen access to this kind of training and this paper presents the findings of an evaluation of a pilot of this e-learning course. To test the effectiveness of the e-learning environment in delivering research methods and critical appraisal skills training to social workers in comparison with a classroom group, we adopted a mixed methods approach which comprised concept mapping exercises, semi-structured interviews and evaluation questionnaires administered to the e-learners (n = 3) and a classroom comparison group (n = 12). Our analysis of the students' concept maps revealed no conspicuous differences in the quality of student knowledge changes that were a consequence of the mode of teaching delivery. The e-learners met the learning outcomes of the module to the same extent as the classroom group and were highly satisfied with the mode of delivery. Although this was a small pilot, it provided tentative evidence that social workers can use e-learning to develop evidence-based practice skills.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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