Teaching Social Work Research Methods A Blended Learning Approach

Description

This short A4 guide illustrates an enquiry-based blended learning design used to encourage learning and teaching around research skills for social work. Its aim is to describe the learning design and encourage discussion about this type of learning and teaching approach. This flexible enquiry-based blended learning design was created to improve student engagement in the development of research skills and knowledge. The primary aim was to develop a more responsive teaching and learning approach to promote deeper learning outcomes. Evaluation of previous teaching identified two primary issues that needed addressing in order to engage students more effectively in learning around research. Firstly, the postgraduate students came to the module with different levels of previous knowledge and understanding. Some had significant prior knowledge of research methods and experienced material as repetitive or simplistic whilst those whose knowledge of research was limited found some of the material hard to access and understand; this resulted in students becoming disengaged from the learning process. Secondly the research teaching occurred early in the programme, and some considerable time before the students became engaged in independent research for their dissertations. A flexible approach was required that could be used over a 12–18 month period.