|
The Program for Social Services Research, Demonstration and Training with Western Washington University and under contracts with the State of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services and Department of Children and Family Services has been developing Interactive Multimedia professional skills training for more than 4 years. Interactive videodisc packages include training for receptionists in the income assistance office, interviewing skills for social service and financial service workers, risk assessment for child sexual abuse and indicators of child physical abuse for beginning case workers. Goals for this interactive delivery format for this arena of training include: effectively dealing with distance factors; providing timely access to training; teaching risk assessment where mistakes are not disastrous; developing videos of behaviours as important assets to the training; and providing for individualized lesson planning.These packages range from 1 to 6 videodisc sides and up to 24 user contact hours. All instructional designs have tutorial and simulation exercises. "Professional Interviewing Practices" (PIP) is the largest and has the most complex instructional and programming design. PIP's navigational design allows the learner to proceed step by step, browse through any module and go back to the tutorial at the departure point, and/or conduct interviews in 7 topical simulations. The simulations can then be reviewed by the learner as complete video sequence. Simulation topics include interviews with an AIDS client under the influence and a client who discloses sexual abuse problems.
WWU is one of two universities in the United States developing "soft" skills training for professionals in the social services using IVD or CBT. Currently, WWU offers computer based simulations in cultural diversity, Mexican American Simulations, and a CBT for generating content to be used in cultural simulations.
Another area of interactive training developed this past year is video tape packages. "Ethical Dilemmas for Public Administrators", a self directed study video tape package is designed for use as a telecourse, support for stand up training, or for narrated home use.
PSSRDT at WWU is beginning its 21st year designing and delivering training to social service personnel across the state of Washington. This is collaborative effort with state employees which guarantees the appropriate skill levels and content in this field. Innovative implementation and evaluation methods for meeting the special needs of this population are beginning in September. Preliminary results should be available by January.
| Please cite as: Renner, E. (1992). Guided self directed study for the social services. In Promaco Conventions (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Interactive Multimedia Symposium, 493-494. Perth, Western Australia, 27-31 January. Promaco Conventions. http://www.aset.org.au/confs/iims/1992/renner.html |