INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE via CUOL distance Education

Transcription

1 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE via CUOL distance Education Facilitator/ Instructor: Fiona Meyer Cook Office: Room 626 Dunton Tower Telephone: (ext 4328 ) fionameyercook@cmail.carleton.ca Regular Office Hours via Big Blue Button: times to be determined the first week of class for faster response: sowkv2013@gmail.com Course Overview This on-line course provides an introduction to Canadian income security, social work and social services. We will look at the historical roots and contemporary circumstances of social welfare, social work and community organising as they affect different groups of people in Canada. In this course, social welfare is examined within broader social and economic structures. Students will be encouraged to consider social workers changing roles and the importance of reflexivity in practice. The course incorporates taped lectures, weekly readings, written paper assignments discussion board activities, a book review, and short on-line quizzes. For information about how to access the taped lectures, see "CUOL Basics for Students" section below. Course Objectives. To trace the historical roots of social work as a profession and practice, and examine some of the major theoretical paradigms guiding its current development. To provide an overview of the income security system in Canada, its historical evolution, its programs and the major policy debates in this field. To introduce theories about how social problems and relations of power are constructed, and critically analyze the theory, ideology, values and social work practice interconnections. To apply a critical analysis to some of the major current social issues and the role of social work professionals in direct practice, in creating social policy, in social program administration and social change. To enhance skills in critical reading, thinking, analysis and writing. Learning Outcomes A basic knowledge of historic and current practice in social welfare and social work in Canada Critical reading and writing skills in assignments that ask you to read about social welfare topics Reflexive skills that allow you to see yourself in relation to the world and to others in it, justice, equity and respect A greater understanding of the connections between social, political and economic factors and the conditions of everyday life for Canadians. 1

2 Grading and Due Dates: Type Value Due Length Download Mozilla FireFox browser Mock Quiz and Mock upload to CuLearn Requ'd May 6-10 Find for free on line. Mozilla FireFox works best with CuLearn for uploading assignments and doing quizzes. Requ'd May mock questions. Mock upload: a chance for you to test how the 'upload and Submit feature works. Choose your book Requ'd May Choose your book on CULEARN and buy it early, to get ready for discussion boards 4 Multiple choice quizzes 5% each May 19-23/June July 14-18/July Each quiz will consist of 5 open book multiple choice questions Discussion Board on Jim Silvers: "Good Places To Live" Chapters 1-4 Discussion board on your chosen book 5% Participate between May % Participate between June 2-June 13 Involves posting your reflections on the book and engaging in dialogue and discussion on key themes with peers online. Instructor and TA will work with you to animate the discussion boards. Book Review Due 15% June words (approx. 7 pages) Upload and Submit to CuLearn Book Slam -part 1 5% July 15 Upload and Submit to CuLearn 1 minute maximum audio-visual recording or 1 page pdf file Paper (40% Total) Paper Part 1: Thesis Statement and List of References 10% June 10, page. Minimum 5 references (2 journal articles & 2 texts) Upload and Submit to CuLearn Paper Part 2: Detailed Outline 10% July 8, pages Upload and Submit to CuLearn Paper Part 3: Final Paper 20% August 2, words max (8-10 pages) Upload and Submit to CuLearn Book slam -Part 2 3% August 8 Discussion board reviewing other students assignments and voting on the "best" book for future social workers to read. Final Exam (on any part of the class) 10% August (on-line) 20 open book multiple choice questions 2

3 Required texts 1. Hick, Steven (2010) Social Work in Canada: An Introduction (Third Edition) Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishers. (Be sure to get the correct edition of the textbook!!) 2. Silver, Jim. (2011) Good Places to Live: Poverty and Public Housing in Canada. Fernwood Publishing. Texts are available for purchase at Octopus Books 116 Third Avenue in the Glebe, Ottawa Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 and 251 Bank Street, 2nd Floor Mon-Fri, 11-6 Check out directions to get there at You can also phone to have them mail you your book for a small additional fee. You may find this book in second hand bookstores as well. ***Additional readings will be posted on CuLearn ( see below). You will need to set up your Carleton library account to access many of these readings at home. Carleton University OnLine (CUOL) Basics for Students Information and Assistance CUOL website: Video On Demand login page: CUOL Student Centre: D299 Loeb, FREE cuol@carleton.ca (general information) vod@carleton.ca (Video On Demand support and questions) Lectures were recorded during the Fall/Winter term and can be accessed in the ways listed below: Television Broadcast - Rogers Digital Cable Channel 243: Mondays and Thursdays 8:00 pm 11 pm (starts May 6) CUOL Webcast at time of broadcast Video-On-Demand - online streaming of available lectures anytime ($80 fee applies). To add the service, go to Carleton Central and add section VOD (CRN 20901). You will be registered in both V and VOD. Log in here to view your lectures using your CuLearn login and password. CUOL Student Centre in D299 Loeb: free Viewing Kiosks, Pay per Lecture online rental of individual lectures, fee applies For more information see: 3

4 CuLearn CuLearn is an internet support service for your classes. When you enroll in the course you get access to this site. It is very important that you access this site at least weekly for any handouts, additional readings and other resources for the week. You will submit your assignments through this site and participate in discussion group activities here as well. Mozilla FireFox Browser appears to work best for uploading assignments & for the online quizzes. Within the first week of class students are required to take the mock quiz and also upload a word document with only your name in it as a trial or mock assignment. You need to do this in order to make sure the technology works well before you have to use it for real! It has been recommended that students use the Firefox browser to upload course assignments and to participate in quizzes. You can down load Mozilla FireFox for free on-line. There are a few on-line discussion groups for this course on CuLearn, including two book discussion forums, it is important to participate! The instructor and teaching assistant will be monitoring this group to facilitate discussion. Please test your access to this site. Usernames and passwords for your Carleton CuLearn courses use your Student Computing Account information. Viewing Course Lectures The videotaped class lectures are the primary source of course learning. The lectures will often introduce ideas not in readings, as well as provide a context for the readings. Remember that these lectures were taped during the previous fall and winter, and therefore some announcements given in-class will not be relevant to you. For example, for any information about assignments it is key to refer here to this syllabus and these dates, and not the videos, as assignments have changed since last winter. The lectures are broadcast on Rogers Ottawa Digital Channel 243 Monday and Thursday at 8:00 pm -11 pm and via video streaming on the internet at the same time. Lectures are also available via Video on Demand. See: for details. In addition to the broadcast, the CUOL Student Centre located in Loeb D299, provides a course review service to the Carleton University community. Copies of the weekly lectures are available for one day loan and in-house viewing. The CUOL lecture loan service is for review purposes only and must not be consider a primary means of accessing CUOL lectures. The number of copies of each lecture is limited and at times the demand may exceed the supply. For information and assistance please refer to the websites and phone number listed below. CUOL website: Video On Demand login page: CUOL Student Centre: D299 Loeb, cuol@carleton.ca (general information) vod@carleton.ca (Video On Demand support and questions) For more information see: 4

5 Assignments The assignment requirements are detailed at the end of this outline. There is only one method for handing in assignments. Assignments must be submitted via CuLearn. Submission via CuLearn is a two step process. You must both Upload and then Submit an assignment file for it to be handed in through CuLearn. It is your responsibility to ensure and confirm assignment submission. *Keep a copy of your assignments! Detailed instructions are available at Do not mail, fax, or slide your paper under office doors, or hand it in to the CUTV office. Do not attempt to hand in a hard copy of your assignment, it will not be accepted. There are NO extensions for assignments other than for exceptional circumstances such as very serious illness or serious life event. These circumstances must be confirmed via a detailed doctor s note or similar documentation, provided to your TA. 5% will be deducted for every day that you are late with your paper - weekends included. ***Standing in a course is determined by the course instructor subject to the approval of the Faculty Dean. This means that grades submitted by an instructor may be subject to revision. No grades are final until they have been approved by the Dean. Requests for Academic Accommodations For Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations are required to contact a co-ordinator at the Paul Menton Centre to complete the necessary letters of accommodation. The student must then make an appointment to discuss their needs with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first class or ITV test. This is to ensure sufficient time is available to make the necessary accommodation arrangements. For Religious Obligations: Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious obligation should make a formal, written request to their instructors for alternate dates and/or means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests should be made during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist, but no later than two weeks before the compulsory event. Accommodation is to be worked out directly and on an individual basis between the student and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will make accommodations in a way that avoids academic disadvantage to the student. 5

6 Students or instructors who have questions or want to confirm accommodation eligibility of a religious event or practice may refer to the Equity Services website for a list of holy days and Carleton s Academic Accommodation policies, or may contact an Equity Services Advisor in the Equity Services Department for assistance. For Pregnancy: Pregnant students requiring academic accommodations are encouraged to contact an Equity Advisor in Equity Services to complete a letter of accommodation. The student must then make an appointment to discuss her needs with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is anticipated the accommodation will be required. Communication Connect Accounts: Important course information is also distributed via the Connect system. It is the student s responsibility to monitor their Connect account. There will be a TA who will help me facilitate this course. Your first source for answers to your questions will be your TA. Contact information for your TA will be provided during the first week of class. Discussion Groups The will also be an book discussion groups which you can access through CuLearn as part of your formal assignments, but also a possibility to create peer discussion groups on current affairs as they relate to the course, or a peer supported group about the course itself, all of which will be valuable sources of information and support. Assignments Quizzes and Final Exam (Together these are worth 30% of your final mark) The final exam and 4 quizzes will be on-line, multiple choice and open book. These cover material from all aspects of the course. Your graded exam mark, as well generally your other assignment marks, will be available two weeks after the last date of the assignment's due date. There will be 4 short multiple choice quizzes throughout the course each worth 5% of the final mark. These quizzes will be based on the Video lectures and the course readings. Quizzes will be posted one at a time on CuLearn. Each quiz will be on-line for one week, students will be able to do the quiz at a time that is convenient. However, it is important to note : Once the quiz is started, students must complete it all in one session in the time allotted. CuLearn will also not allow students to use the back browser buttons or open other web pages during a quiz without getting timed out. Bookslam and Book discussion boards (Together worth 15% of your mark) These are highly participative on-line assignments, which will allow you to discuss what you are reading with your peers, and also to learn a bit about the books that you did not chose for your own assignment. Details on these will be uploaded to CuLearn in the coming weeks. 6

7 Book Review Assignment (Your book review is worth 15% of your mark) The book review will be graded according to the following scheme: 1: Introduction, Background and Thesis 2 marks 2: Summary of Key Arguments 3 marks 3. Evaluation/analysis 5 marks 4. Conclusion 3 marks 5. Grammar, Spelling 1 mark 6. APA style -1 mark How do I write a book review? I. Introduction An introduction to a book review is generally short and direct. However, it must provide two key elements: background and thesis. Background: First, your introduction should identify the book and author under review along with any essential background: What issues, time period and region are discussed? What is the social question or topic that the book addresses? Thesis: Somewhere in your introduction (generally toward the end) you must provide a succinct, clear evaluation of the book. This evaluation is the thesis for your book review. Your thesis should encompass three main components: The main argument of the book Your evaluation of the book such as its strengths and contributions or weaknesses and shortcomings. Why and/or in what ways you think the work demonstrates these strengths and weaknesses. II. Summary of Key Arguments After your introduction, you should generally provide a brief summary or overview of the book. Take great care not to simply repeat or mirror everything in the book. Step back and identify what its essential arguments are and briefly summarize them. You may want to comment on: What is the book s thesis? How is it similar to or different from other social science/ policy/social work writing on a similar topic? ( in order to address this, you will have to find several other sources of information on the topic and compare them) How is it organized? What are the major arguments? What types of evidence are presented? III. Evaluation/Analysis This section should constitute the bulk of your review. In it, you need to explain and develop the evaluation made in your thesis. Make sure to use examples and brief quotations from the book to illustrate and prove your assessment of the work. For example, if your thesis argues that the work provides a careful and detailed examination of a topic, you should point toward places in the book where it does so. Similarly, if you argue that the work fails to recognize a particular perspective, give examples of places in the text that you think would have benefited from attention to that perspective. 7

8 IV. Conclusion Your conclusion should provide a succinct summation of your review. Overall, what does this work contribute to its field? What limitations does it possess? Does it suggest interesting avenues for future research? How does your analysis of the book help readers to understand the time period being studied or how historians have understood that period? Remember is that a Book Review is not the same thing as a book report that you might have done in high school.. You are NOT summarizing the complete contents of the book, nor are you writing an essay in response to the book. Paper Assignment: The Paper Assignment is worth 40% of the final grade. Possible Topics Include: Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples Social Work with Racialised Canadians and Immigrants Social Work and Sexual and Gender Diversity Social Work with the Elderly Social Work with Persons with Disability Social Work with Children and Youth Social Work with Individuals and Families Social Work with Groups and Communities Social Work with Inner City Families Living in Poverty Part 1: Thesis Statement and List of References (1 page, worth 10%) A. Thesis Statement The first part states the topic. The second part states the point of the essay (Thesis statement). In the third part, list the main ideas you will discuss. B. List of References Minimum 5 references at least 2 journal articles & 2 texts plus one other reference of your choice. You must use APA style. Part 2: Detailed outline of Paper (2 pages, worth 10%) Think of your outline as a flexible but detailed table of contents. Below is a guide on how to structure your outline. 8

9 I. INTRODUCTION: Thesis Statement:. II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1: Opening Sentence:. Detail 1:. Detail 2:. Detail 3:. III. BODY PARAGRAPH II: Transition/Opening Sentence:. Detail 1:. Detail 2:. Detail 3:. IV. BODY PARAGRAPH III: Transition/Opening Sentence:. Detail 1:. Detail 2:. Detail 3:. V. BODY PARAGRAPH IV: Transition/Opening Sentence:. Detail 1:. Detail 2:. Detail 3:. VI. CONCLUSION: Reconfirmed Thesis:. 9

10 Part 3: Final paper (8-10 pages, worth 20%) Your paper should be no longer than words (8-10 pages) not including cover page, bibliography, notes or appendices. Your assignment must be doubled spaced with 1" margins, and size 12 font. Each page (except the title page) must be numbered and contain your name and student number. I recommend you use section headings, and do not use additional double spacing between paragraphs. Your title page must contain your name, student number, Carleton connect address, the title of the assignment, and the course name and number. You must use APA style, using in-text (parenthetical) citations and a reference page. DO NOT use footnotes or endnotes. Refer to any of the many style guides for further details on APA. Refer to the CuLearn Assignment One Resources folder How to Find an Academic Journal, or contact the Social Work Librarian, Martha Attridge Bufton. An example of the three parts of a paper will be available on CuLearn after the second week of class. Feedback and grades Keep a copy of your paper in case of emergency. Your grades and feedback can be accessed through CuLearn approximately two weeks after the due date. Grading: Assignments and exams will be graded with a percentage grade. To convert this to a letter grade or to the university 12-point system, please refer to the following table. Percentage Letter grade 12-point scale Percentage Letter grade 12-point scale A C A C A C B D B D B D- 1 Grade Appeals Students who believe that they deserve a higher grade may appeal directly to the Instructor after meeting with the TA who marked their assignment. All appeals MUST include a letter specifying where additional grades should be considered. The Instructor will re-grade the section you identify, and this becomes your final grade (whether it goes up or down). Details for appeals are on CuLearn. 10

11 Course Calendar Part 1 SOWK 1000 V: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare Spring/Summer 2013 Lecture Topic Text Readings S-1 May 6 Introduction - Course Outline Texts: Social Work in Canada, Hick & Good Places to Live, Silver. S-2 May 9 Social Welfare Hick chapters 1 & 2 S-3 May 13 Review Silver chapters 1 & 2 S-4 May 16 History of Social Work and its Relation to Hick chapter 3 Social Welfare May 20 Holiday. No Broadcast. Silver chapters 3 & 4 Quiz #1 open May S-5 May 23 Politics, Social Welfare and Social Work "Good Places to Live" Book Discussion board open May S-6 May 27 Social Work Practice: Theory and approaches Hick chapter 4 S-7-May 30 Social Work as a Profession Hick chapter 5 Silver read case studies in book S-8 June 3 Ethics, equality and equity, social justice CASW Code of Ethics; Hick p Participate in your chosen book discussion board open June 2-13 S-9 June 6 Social Work with Individuals and Families Hick Chapter 6 Participate in your chosen book discussion board open June 2-13 S-10 June 10 Social Work with Children and Families Hick Chapter 8 Paper Part 1: Thesis Statement and list of references due June 10 S-11 June 13 Social Work with Groups and Communities Hick Chapter 7 Quiz #2 open June16-20 S-12 June 17 Social Work and the Health of Canadians Hick Chapter 9 Book Review Due June 26th June Exam Period. No mid-term exam for this course. 11

12 Course Calendar Part 2 SOWK 1000 V: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare Spring/Summer 2013 July 1 Holiday. No Broadcast. S-13 July 4 Becoming Reflexive and Self-Aware S-14 July 8 Social Work with Women Paper Part 2-Due July 8 Hick Chapter 10 S-15 July 11 Social Work with Aboriginal People Quiz #3 open July Hick Chapter 11 S-16 July 15 Social Work with Racialised Canadians and Immigrants S-17 July 18 Social Work with the Elderly Hick Chapter 13 Bookslam Part 1-upload by July 15 Hick Chapter 12 S-18 July 22 Social Work and Sexual and Gender Diversity Hick Chapter 14 Quiz #4 -Open July Chapter S-19 July 25 Social Work and Homelessness Readings to be assigned on-line S-20 July 29 Social Work and Disability Hick Chapter 15 S-21 Aug 1 International Social Work Practice Paper Part 3-Due August 2 Hick Chapter 16 August 5 Holiday. No Broadcast. S-22 Aug 8 Special Topics in Social Welfare: Activism Bookslam Part 2 -Due Aug 8 S-23 Aug 12 Review of the Year's Work Chapters Aug Exam Period. Final on-line exam open August Course Survival: A Few Helpful Hints This course was pre-recorded in the fall-winter with Professor Susan Braedley. The assignments and deadlines for our spring and summer course are not the same. Ignore any mention of the types of assignments and due dates you hear in the video lectures. The assignments and due dates in this outline are the only ones that you need to know. Keep-up with classes. Watch the video version regularly (every week). The quizzes and final exam will be based on the lectures and the readings. 12

13 Use the course CuLearn site. You can t take this class without relying on this resource. It contains a wealth of information intended to help you do well in the course, it is also the way you hand in assignments. CuLearn allows you to ask questions and participate in events. Many students print the class lecture slides handout before class and use it as the basis for note-taking during class. Read the required readings every week, textbook chapters and the CuLearn articles, before the class. Don't worry about memorizing the statistics in the readings. Pick up the main ideas and supporting evidence. Learn the meanings of terms/concepts. Read the newspaper or find some other means to keep up with current events locally and internationally, especially social, political and economic issues. Think critically about what you are reading and try to connect it to your course material. We encourage you to post interesting current events/news articles on a discussion board and to use these online boards to generate dialogue with your peers. Discuss with others what you are reading and learning. Discussion is one way of helping to retain the material and also helps to clarify one's thoughts. Ask your friends/family for their opinions. Use the discussion space on CuLearn to talk with your peers and teachers. Get academic help when needed. Book an appointment with the instructor or TA via Big Blue Button Office hours or through sowkv2013@gmail.com Carleton also offers a variety of helpful services. They are free and can be quite helpful. Check out Hand in your assignments on time. You lose 5% (approximately a grade point) for every day you are late. It adds up quickly. Ask Questions. Let us know if something is not clear. If you are having some trouble with all or part of a lecture, chances are that others may be experiencing the same thing. Let me or the TA know so that we can clarify. Use Writing Tutorial Services. If writing is not your biggest strength and teachers in the past have identified it as a problem, I recommend that you get assistance before you submit the 1st assignment. Try Writing Tutorial Services here at Carleton: Overwhelmed, panicky, or depressed? There are many helpful resources, if you need information on how to access these try the really good counselling services available here at Carleton: ttp:// If you think you may have a learning disability contact the Paul Menton Centre: 13

14 PLAGIARISM VERY IMPORTANT! READ THIS! Plagiarism is a serious offense with serious consequences. It occurs when: (1) you directly copy another s work without acknowledging it; (2) you closely paraphrase the equivalent of a short paragraph or more without acknowledging it; (3) you borrow without acknowledgment, any ideas in clear and recognizable form in such a way as to present them as your own thoughts, where if they were your ideas they would contribute to the merit of your work; (4) when you use direct quotations without quotation marks (or indenting and single-spacing) and references. Cases of suspected plagiarism will be reported the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Public Affair and will result in serious consequences. 14