SWK 371: Social Work Seminar 1

Course Description

This is the first seminar course for Practicum Education. The weekly seminar course allows students to process their practicum experiences. This course is designed to integrate theory with practice, to gain information about community resources, to monitor student progress in the agency, and to process these experiences on practical, conceptual, and ethical levels. A strong emphasis is on engaging students to support one another's personal-professional growth in understanding their roles as leaders and change agents in the social work profession. Additionally, a fundamental understanding of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Code of Ethics will be integrated with course discussions. (2 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2
  • SWK 101: Introduction to Social Work
  • SWK 225: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 1
  • SWK 226: Human Behavior in the Social Environment 2
  • SWK 305: Direct Practice with Individuals/Couples (or permission of the Program Director)
  • SWK 370: Social Work Practicum Experiences 1*

* May be taken concurrently.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Analyze ethical decisions made by applying the National Association of Social Worker Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics withing the profession as appropriate to the context.
  2. Evaluate professional behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication.
  3. Apply technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes.
  4. Review supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.
  5. Reflect on anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels.
  6. Manage cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness, and self-regulation to manage the influence of biases, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies, acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experiences.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) / Competencies

  1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  5. Engage in Policy Practice
  6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-13)

15%

Chapter Quizzes (Weeks 2-12)

20%

Weekly Assignments (Weeks 2-13)

20%

Client Role Play Presentation (Weeks 14 & 15)

30%

Weekly Seminar Participation* (Weeks 1-15)

15%

Total

100%

*Weekly Seminar Participation is required from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday of each week via Blackboard Class Collaborate Ultra.

  • Note: Absence from 2 or more consecutive weekly seminar sessions will result in course failure.

 

Required Textbook

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Valerie Nash Chang, Carol L. Decker, Sheryn T. Scott (2023). Developing Helping Skills: A Step-by-Step Approach to Competency – with MindTap Access. 3rd ed.

Additional Resources

  • Additional reading materials, assignments or activities can be determined by the Practicum Agency. For example, Agency training about documentation and client files.

Course Schedule

Week

PLOs

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,3

1-6

Topic: Introduction to Social Work Seminar 1

  • Social Work Practicum Manual
  • Review Course Materials
  • Review Course Policies
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions

2

1,3

3,4,6

Topic: Understanding Yourself and Others

  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 1 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 1: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 1: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 1: Quiz

3

1,3

3,4,6

Topic: Ways of Understanding and Perceiving Self and Others

  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 2 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 2: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 2: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 2: Quiz

4

1,3

1-5

Topic: Values, Ethics, and Legal Obligations

  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 3 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 3: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 3: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 3: Quiz

5

1,3

1-6

Topic: Professionalism and Professional Relationships

  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 4 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 4: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 4: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 4: Quiz

6

1,3

1-6

Topic: Developing Working Relationships

  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 5 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 5: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 5: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 5: Quiz

7

1,3

1-6

Topic: Foundational Interpersonal Skills

  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 6 PowerPoint

 

  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 6: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 6: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 6: Quiz

8

1,3,6

2,3,4,6

Topic: Beginning and Ending a Meeting

  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 7 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 7: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 7: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 7: Quiz

9

1,3,6

2-6

Topic: Demonstrating Active Listening

  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 8 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 8: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 8: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 8: Quiz

10

1,3,6

2-6

Topic: Using Questions

  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 9 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 9: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 9: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 9: Quiz

11

1,3,6

2-6

Topic: Exploring and Discovering

  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 10 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 10: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 10: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 10: Quiz

12

1,3,6

2-6

Topic: Assessing Readiness and Motivation

  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 11 PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapter
  • Read assigned PowerPoint
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 11: Polling Activity
    • Chapter 11: Helper Studio
    • Chapter 11: Quiz

13

1,3,6,7

1-6

Topic: Review and Preparation for Presentations

  • Review Chapters 8-11
  • Review Chapters 8-11 PowerPoints
  • Review assigned chapters
  • Review assigned PowerPoints
  • Review assigned link
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in discussions
  • Submit the following assignments:
    • Chapter 8: Video Activity
    • Chapter 9: Video Activity

14

1,3,6,7

1-6

Topic: Discussion of Client Role Play Presentations

  • Review Chapter 8
  • Review Chapter 8 PowerPoint
  • Review assigned chapter
  • Review assigned PowerPoint
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in Client Role Play Presentation

15

1,3,6,7

1-6

Topic: Discussion of Client Role Play Presentations (Continued)

  • Review Chapter 8
  • Review Chapter 8 PowerPoint
  • Review assigned chapter
  • Review assigned PowerPoint
  • Participate in Weekly Seminar
  • Participate in Client Role Play Presentation
  • Submit Client Role Play Presentations documents
  • Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.