new technology in the human services

MacFadden R, Dumbrill G & Maiter S (2000) Web-based education in a graduate faculty of social work: crossing the new frontier
New Technology in the Human Services 13 (1 & 2), pp. 27-38


Abstract A preliminary version of this paper was presented at Husita-5 in Budapest, Hungary, on September 1st, 1999. Abstract This paper explores the experience of a graduate faculty of social work in developing, conducting and evaluating its first entirely web-based course focused on enhancing the cultural competency of social workers. Content priorities were determined by listing all educational offerings and a range of topics and identifying those topics that have maximum relevancy. A web-based course was developed in collaboration with a ‘turnkey’ course delivery company to minimize costs, time and required technological expertise. This six week course, supported by two facilitators, emphasized individual and group level goals and incorporated considerable group level activity. Nineteen human service learners participated and the evaluation included a comparison group of 12 graduate students. Using the Multicultural Counseling Inventory or MCI (Sodowsky et al., 1996) that assesses behaviour and attitudes relevant to four multicultural competencies: skills, awareness, relationship and knowledge. Participants who had taken the course and completed pre-test and post-test measures, achieved significant gains in the skills and awareness subscales and on the full MCI as one measure.

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