Use of computing on the Social Work Degree

Use of computing on the Social Work Degree Requirements of the curriculum The practice of social work now requires regular use of computing to deliver an effective service and to keep up to date with new developments and evidence-based practice. This is reflected in the Social Work degree curriculum, specified by the General Social Care Council, which requires students to have developed a range of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) skills. As a result, the OU Social Work degree uses a variety of integrated computing activities to enable students to: 1. Use a range of OU systems and services 2. Communicate with their tutor and fellow students online 3. Develop ICT and IL (information literacy) skills required of social work graduates 4. Explore multimedia case study material and interactive activities relating to course theories and concepts. 1 Using OU systems and services OU students use a range of computer tools on a regular basis for studyrelated tasks. These enable students to work more efficiently, often providing time-saving benefits, and also give access to a wealth of information and expertise key benefits to distance learners. For instance, students will submit assignments and receive comments from their tutor online. They will have instant access to digital resources via the OU Library and via their course website so they can search quickly for the information they want. Additional integrated tools will enable students to store resources and references into a portfolio to access online, including for three years after graduation. 2 Communicating with tutors and fellow students online In addition to regular face-to-face workshops with their tutor group, students are required to participate in regular online discussions where they will continue to explore course themes and practise online communication skills important to social work. As their communication skills develop throughout the programme, students will have opportunities for course-wide debate with fellow students, an exciting way to engage with perspectives from a range of agencies, disciplines, and across the different countries in the UK. For these activities students will need regular internet access. Faculty of Health & Social Care 1 Copyright The Open University

3 Developing ICT and IL skills Social Work graduates are expected to have developed skills as required by the GSCC. The OU degree therefore contains specifically developed ICT and IL activities which cover relevant skills, wherever possible contextualised within social work. The first practice learning course (K113) contains the bulk of this teaching, and as a result students should expect an intensive period of ICT skills development during this course. Thereafter the focus on developing ICT skills will be considerably reduced, with K216 students instead being encouraged to apply these skills in their social work practice, and K315 students to critically evaluate their experience of ICT tools. ICT proficient students ICT skills are becoming more widespread and students may arrive on the Social Work degree programme already competent in the ICT skills targeted in the activities, perhaps having already gained their ECDL (European Computing Driving Licence). All students must complete the assessed tasks to demonstrate their skills. Students who are already competent should be able to complete these quickly to gain the associated marks. To facilitate this, we provide Quick Reference sections within ICT activities so that it is possible to check what is covered and skip ahead to those parts which are either new to the student or need to be completed for assessment purposes. Although students are directed to study the ICT sessions at regular intervals in the study calendar, it is possible, if preferred, to work through them ahead of the calendar schedule. However, the associated interactive computer marked assessments cannot be submitted at other than the stated times. 4 Exploring multimedia case study material Case study material will be provided using a variety of media delivered on CD-ROM and on DVD-ROM. This will provide learning activities drawing on a selection of media resources, including audio, video, contextual documents and input from professionals in the form of audio or text commentary and feedback. Students may be directed to use these multimedia case studies and simulations in regular study periods throughout a course, or in a block of intensive learning. Skills progression After an intensive year on K113 of ICT skills development around the use of OU systems, services and tools for study, students start to focus on social work practice. Case studies and the student s experience in their practice learning opportunity now provide the context for learning activities (some of which may be ICT or IL exercises), requiring students Faculty of Health & Social Care 2 Copyright The Open University

to apply their skills and knowledge. Students will increasingly be required to use diagnostic or self-assessment activities to identify and work on their own skills development needs. As students progress through the degree levels they will be required to study increasingly online. They will study the final Practice course, K315, using an online learning guide to manage their learning. Students should be well equipped to carry out research online and use tools to manage resources such as bibliographic references and practice-based evidence. Setting up Before the student can engage with the OU systems and services, there is an important induction period during which the student needs to set up their computer with the necessary internet access and any software required for the course. In addition they will need to orientate and familiarise themselves with the basic skills to be able to make use of these. This period is therefore an opportunity to draw on guidance provided by the University and follow up any issues with the OU Computing Helpdesk and other support services. Students may find the start of the course requires an intensive burst of ICT-related work. However, the time invested will pay dividends as students will make frequent use of these tools for the duration of the degree programme. Computer requirements Details of the computer specifications for each course can be found on the OU s Courses and Qualifications website. Details are accessed within the Course Materials section for each course, via the link Technical requirements. The computer specification is deliberately kept as low as possible to allow use of older computers. However, there are four issues to consider: compatibility with OU assignment handling systems, including with the tutor s computer Students are strongly recommended to have Microsoft Word, not Microsoft Works. Although these names sound similar, they operate differently within the assignment system and may cause compatibility problems for tutors and students. software required to cover the ICT skills To ensure they cover the ICT requirements, students will need to have access to the required software at the specified times in the courses. The ICT exercises are written with the specified software in mind. If students do not have access to this software, they will need to take responsibility for working around the gaps in guidance and support. To avoid the potential challenges this poses we strongly recommend that students follow the computer specification as closely as possible. Faculty of Health & Social Care 3 Copyright The Open University

If a computer is more recent and up to date than the computer specification, and contains newer versions of the software specified, this will not cause difficulties. DVD-ROM use for multimedia case studies Students studying K315 will require access to a DVD-ROM drive on their computer. TV with DVD player Some of the K315 case study activities will include longer video sequences, supplied on the DVD-ROM. It is necessary to view these either at a computer, or on a TV with DVD player. Installing software Software provided to students (downloaded from the OU website) is quality tested and widely used and installation should be straightforward. Occasionally settings within the student s computer need to be adjusted to allow the software to run effectively. Support is available from the OU Computing Helpdesk to talk through the steps to take if any difficulties are experienced. Students can access the online resources available through the course website and communicate with their tutor group using a normal web browser. Establishing compatibility It is important to check early on in each course that the tutors and students are using compatible software so that tutor feedback on assignments can be read. On occasions, if settings are incorrect or inappropriate software is used, a student may be unaware that there is feedback available in the marked assignment script. Since this is one of the most valuable learning opportunities in the course, it is essential to ensure this exchange of information is set up correctly. A trial exercise is therefore scheduled at the start of each course for students and tutors to exchange a dummy assignment and iron out any issues with the OU Computing Helpdesk. Arranging access to a computer Students will need to have access to a computer and the internet at home for a range of different study-related tasks. They will need regular access during the week to check their email, online tutor group forum and course website. This is the way they will keep in touch with the Open University news updates. In the lead-up to an assignment cut-off date they will need more sustained access over a longer period to write the assignment and complete the ICT skills work and assessed task. Students should also have access to a printer. Costs of internet access and printing are the responsibility of the student. To complete the computer marked assignments and submit their TMAs students will need internet access. For information literacy activities Faculty of Health & Social Care 4 Copyright The Open University

students will need internet access to online resources via the OU Library. On courses which make use of case study material on CD/DVD-ROMs students are likely to need access for longer periods from one to several hours, depending on the nature of the activity. The course texts will indicate with an icon what activity type it is and the amount of time to allow. ICT skills preparation While students are awaiting the course start they may wish to take advantage of the time available to develop their ICT skills. Preparation work could include: training opportunities available in their workplace undertaking some ECDL training. For example, students can buy books on ECDL skills and/or attend classes at FE colleges or other assessment centres. Recommended ECDL modules which could help build up relevant skills: Module 2 Using the Computer and Managing Files Module 3 Word processing Module 7 Information and Communication. Agency access to the degree website Agency Co-ordinators, Practices Assessors and Workplace Supervisors can also request access to the degree website by emailing Claire Dougall (c.dougall@open.ac.uk). The website contains essential information about the programme, including the timetable, programme resources such as the Assessment Handbook and Practice Learning Guide, forms associated with the programme and links to individual course websites. Faculty of Health & Social Care 5 Copyright The Open University