Teaching Social Work Students Practice Skills

Abstract Field instructors have an essential role in the development of students' skills, yet they often struggle with how best to teach students practice skills. This study asked field practicum instructors and their students about the best practice strategies available. Forty-three student/field instructor pairs participated in this research study. Field instructors and students did not always agree on whether a technique was used. Student/field instructor pairs were more likely to agree that the following techniques were used to teach skills: modeling, providing written material, role playing, discussing, and assigning process recordings, and less likely to agree on the use of lecturing and co-counseling. The more experienced field instructors used more techniques than the newer field instructors. Students report that discussion, modeling and co-counseling were most helpful to their learning. The techniques being used and their helpfulness points to significant practice guidelines for the training of future social workers.