The School of Social Work's AI taskforce has successfully completed Phase 1 of its Virtual Simulation Pilot Project. This initiative is designed to enhance social work education by providing students with opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge and master essential competencies necessary for practice in diverse settings, including behavioral health, mental health, healthcare, schools, substance abuse, and the criminal justice system. These simulations facilitate the improvement of practice skills both prior to and during field internships. Additionally, experienced social workers can benefit from these virtual simulations as they explore new practice areas or transition between different settings.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the accrediting body for social work programs, recognizes "simulated demonstration" as a valid method for assessing student competency achievement in field education (CSWE, 2022). The USF School of Social Work's pilot project represents a significant advancement in integrating advanced virtual simulation technology into the social work curriculum, thereby positioning the school as a leader in innovative educational practices.
In fall 2023, an interactive, web-based simulation platform designed to improve the clinical skills of social work students was employed to engage first semester Master of Social Work (MSW) students with virtual clients presenting diverse behavioral and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and family conflict. Students participated in these virtual simulations to fulfill part of the requirements for a pre-field practicum course. The virtual clients were carefully selected to cover a broad range of social work competencies, from initial client assessments to complex case management. This approach allowed students to practice assessment, intervention, and decision-making skills, providing essential hands-on experiences in a safe and controlled environment that complemented traditional classroom learning.
Focus groups with students who utilized the virtual simulations offered critical insights. A predominant theme was that students recognized the potential for virtual simulation-based learning to enhance their clinical skills by providing additional, accessible opportunities to practice in a safe way with a diverse pool of simulated clients. As one student articulated, “I think the simulation-based client will give us the opportunity to make more mistakes and especially because we could do it multiple times.” Students also suggested improvements, such as increasing practice opportunities with simulated clients, enhancing feedback from the tool itself, and more guidance from the instructors.
In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with instructors who implemented virtual simulation-based learning in their classrooms to gather feedback based on their direct experience with the simulation platform. Instructors were enthusiastic about the platform's potential to enhance students' clinical skills, interview skills, and confidence by providing additional practice opportunities. They also suggested the need for adequate, ongoing training and technical support for instructors to guide students effectively through simulation exercises and to manage the complexities of technology integration. Furthermore, instructors noted the value of virtual simulation technologies in maintaining their own skills through ongoing practice with diverse virtual clients.
Phase 1 of the Virtual Simulation Pilot Project has indicated that this approach holds promise but warrants further exploration with a larger sample and implementation-related improvements. Consequently, the School of Social Work's AI taskforce will conduct Phase 2 with a new cohort of first year MSW students in fall 2024. As the taskforce prepares to expand this initiative, the team envisions a future where social work students and practicing professionals have access to the best educational tools and resources.
This project was led by task force members Manisha Joshi, PhD, MPH, MSW, Riaan van Zyl, PhD, Chris Simmons, PhD, LCSW, Lisa Macri, PhD, MSW, and Vickie Lynn, PhD, MSW, MPH.