Social Work Beyond the Classroom
Implementing Technologically Enhanced Learning Methods to Guide Expert Performance in Human Services
Featuring Chad McDonald, PhD, LCSW, Research Assistant Professor
Location: College of Social Work, Room 155A & Online via Zoom
Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (MT)
Overview
Building reliable expertise in child welfare practice is extremely difficult without a way to practice the skills needed to effectively intervene with families. But technology-based training methods, such as Virtual Reality (VR), offer a potential solution. This presentation offers guidance for harnessing technological approaches to training child welfare professionals using real-time data dashboards, VR/computer-based platforms, and phone applications designed to increase effective skill acquisition.
About Presenter
Chad McDonald received his Ph.D. in 2021, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) after also getting his MSW from the College of Social Work at the University of Utah (UofU), focusing his research interests on competency development and assessment, particularly within the child welfare workforce. Chad is the Director of the Social Research Institute (SRI) and the Principal Investigator (PI) of Utah's Title IV-E Education Contract between DCFS and the University of Utah. Some of Chad's important interests include helping states develop effective pre-screening and hiring practices, strengthening the training delivery through more evidence-based content and practice, as well as helping organizations understand and develop the key elements of successful transfer of learning strategies to improve practice delivery.