Understanding the Digital Landscape
In today’s digital age, skills in using digital technology have moved from being an advantage to being essential, particularly in the field of social work. Understanding and working effectively with digital tools and services, has become central to our professional roles. This journey begins during initial social work education where more and more emphasis is being placed on preparing and developing the workforce for the digital future.
Social Work in an Online World
David A. Wilkerson and Liam O’Sullivan take an in-depth look at the use of technology within social work practice, in their book ‘Social Work in an Online World’ (2023). It offers examples of how technology is being used across a range of settings and service user groups, e.g.:
- online support groups,
- online synchronous therapy,
- e-OSCE simulations,
- a digital school safety service and,
- digital hybrid psycho-education programmes.
The book also considers key issues around using technology for social justice, best practice in technology-based support when working with children and families as well as a social media as a vehicle for social justice and community action. Further to this, the Routledge International Handbook of Digital Social Work (2023) provides a provides an overview of current research and trends related to the emerging field of digital technology and social work.
New Technologies in Social Work Education in Northern Ireland
As we’ve suggested above, social work is undergoing digital transformation, and many new technologies are now being incorporated into professional training and education. A few examples are given below:
- Learning Management Systems (LMS): These platforms are well established with Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and Open University programmes and provide a digital hub for training materials, webinars, discussions, assessments, and more. Examples include Moodle, Blackboard, and Canvas. Many such systems are replicated with services and as familiarity with their use and function is important.
- Online Collaboration Tools: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become routine to use platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Miro, and Google Workspace to facilitate group projects, meetings, and online learning sessions. Many students and practitioners use services like Whatsapp, Slack, and Discord to collaborate and share ideas. There has also been increased use of video conferencing technology during supervision and student mid-point reviews. These are also used in professional practice, so understanding these technologies and using them safely is essential: i.e. when using any of these tools, we need to be careful what we share and be mindful of data security. (See the section on Staying Safe Online to learn more.)
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): These immersive technologies simulate real-world scenarios, allowing social work students to develop and practice skills in a safe and controlled environment. In future, we are likely to see this used more and more within the social work education to improve empathy, understanding and demonstrate more complex aspects of practice. This short clip shows an interactive VR experience based on a family and childcare home visit –
- There is some excellent research available at the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab and a growing number of examples of application of this technology: AR to support Parkinson’s and/or dementia and VR for older people in Care Homes.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a learning tool: Much has been made of AI in relation to potential misuse, such as plagiarism and privacy concerns. There is some evidence of its potential to enhance social work education and training. However, the human element – including empathy, ethical judgement, and the ability to understand context – remains a crucial aspect of social work education. A useful video summary of the potential uses of AI in social work education has been produced by Dr Tarsem Singh-Cooner and can be found here:
See section on Artificial Intelligence/AI to learn more.
Summary
The digital world brings new opportunities and challenges for social work professionals in Northern Ireland. Embracing digital skills will not only improve your practice but also open new possibilities for learning, collaboration, and service delivery.
Reflective learning exercise
Complete the exercise below and keep a record of your reflections.
Additonal information and links
Digital Strategy Health and Social Care Northern Ireland 2022-2030
All-Ireland Digital Capabilities Framework found here – https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-all-ireland-digital-capability-framework.pdf
Social Work in an Online World. A Guide to Digital Practice. David A. Wilkerson and Liam O’Sullivan, Editors ISBN: 978-0-87101-584-6. 2023
We are always interested in ensuring our resources are valuable tools for the workforce and are keen to hear your feedback, or ideas for future topics which could be included in this resource.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash