NTHS 10(3)
pp19-20 1997
Tony Pipe is a probation officer working
in Manchester . Geraldine Earley is a qualified social worker with experience
of residential care.
Contact them at:
Greater Manchester Probation Service,
Oaklands House,
Talbot Road,
Manchester M16 0PQ
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Keisha - A Case Simulation in Failure to Thrive
Reveiwed by Tony
Pipe and Geraldine Earley
Description of the software
Keisha is an
interactive, multimedia, computer-based simulation developed for the Children’s
Protective Services Training Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
It was developed by a team consisting of Dick Schoech; Ph.D., project
co-ordinator, Monica Williams, MSSW, Simulation Developer; Ann Wilder,
Resource Base Developer; and Rosemary Satterwhite, MSSW, Subject Matter
Expert. Although I have experience of both computer program development
and social work, Child Protection is not an area of special expertise
and I was therefore assisted in this review by Geraldine Earley. She has
extensive experience with children received into residential care and
has also just completed her Masters degree in Social Work thus being able
to give perspective as a recent student.
The very first comment I would like to make about
Keisha is that it is an excellent piece of work that clearly illustrates
the potential for computer based programs to aid the process of learning.
The process of assessing Keisha was facilitated by the developers stating
very clearly what the objectives of their project. These were:
1) To allow users to experience the complexities
of working a real Failure To Thrive (FTT) case.
2) To allow users to make mistakes while working
a FTT case without harming a client or themselves.
3) To allow users to discover and apply knowledge
required to work a FTT case.
4) To allow users to construct a case record from
the knowledge base discovered while working a FTT case
5) To provide constant monitoring and feedback.
6) To reinforce good judgement in the order of
events when working an FTT case.
7) To improve judgement in working a FTT case by
comparing user judgement to expert judgement.
Having worked through the program a number of times
I feel that Keisha manages to fulfil all its objectives. The program consists
of four modules which take approximately half an hour each to work through.
The modules are 1) the referral, 2) the home visit, 3) casework activity
and 4) forms and feedback. The modules are worked through by a process
of ‘discovery’, that is, a situation is set by the computer
and the individual investigates the material provided to formulate a judgement
as to how to proceed. At all times assistance is available, this comes
in a variety of forms including a filing cabinet full of appropriate information,
a supervisor and expert opinion. This process does allow an experience
of FTT work that is safe, structured and fosters the use of ‘best
practice’ throughout. The process of working through the simulation
promotes the acquisition of a sound knowledge base, the ability to be
aware of correct procedures and policies and the development of improved
judgement.
The program arrived on five floppy disks accompanied
by a short manual. The program was easy to install and worked first time.
The only suggestion at this stage would be to include an uninstall facility
which worked from a single mouse click rather than the process described
in the manual.
The screens were very clear, pleasingly laid out
and the instructions were accurate and easy to follow. The program features
‘Roll Over’ techniques which allow the user to move the mouse
around the screens and activate various features by passing over ‘Hot
Spots’. There is extensive use of graphics, which are excellent,
and at certain stages photographic images can be viewed. The use of these
images is integral to the program and enhances the learning process and,
as such, careful attention needs to paid to ensure that they are as clear
and detailed as possible. My personal opinion is that one of the most
impressive features of the whole program is the quality and accessibility
of the information available from the ‘electronic’ filing cabinet.
If the techniques used in Keisha were to be adapted to constructing a
practice tool as opposed to a teaching tool, the availability of consistently
high quality, accurate information in an easily retrievable form should
lead to an improvement in the quality of service delivered. The program
also contains a number of light-hearted ways of making important points;
the user can choose to take a coffee break when necessary to relieve what
is, even in simulation, a stressful situation; a spinning top is provided
with the same aim and the user can choose between an Owl and a Shark to
represent their supervisor. Attention to issues of race and gender are
addressed by allowing the user to choose an appropriate image to represent
themselves but this is slightly tarnished by the fact that virtually all
workers are represented as being female until one gets to the exalted
position of Specialist hospital doctor (and should the doctor be portrayed
smoking?).
When working through the simulation the intention
is that material should be studied, information obtained, judgements made
and that these should then be checked against the Expert Opinion provided
by the program. It is, however, possible to go straight to the Expert
Opinion without the preceding steps, but even this method of progression
provides a powerful learning experience. All four modules provide excellent
material, taxing exercises and stimulating interactions. There are places
in the simulations where it would have been helpful to be able to repeat
certain tasks (i.e. making a second call to the Hospital Social Worker)
but such detail did not detract from the overall impression of a very
good program. Some aspects are very clearly set specifically for the Texas
Child Protection Service but I understand that a degree of specific ‘tailoring’
can be done, particularly in reference to the forms used. There is such
a wealth of excellent information contained within the program that it
may be a useful addition to add the facility to print out sections of
it.
Overall, I was very impressed with this program.
It took some four thousand hours to produce and this is reflected in the
general quality, attention to detail and depth of available information.
Geraldine Earley and myself would both commend its use as a powerful learning
aid.
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