www.robertmacfadden.com
416 978
5818
FSW Room 218
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
PROFESSIONAL
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
SWK 4667S
COURSE OUTLINE
CONTEXT
Social Work is a
knowledge-intensive profession where information is essential in
decision-making and practice. Information must be relevant, current, clear,
accurate, conveniently accessed, flexibly presented and easily communicated.
Innovations in information
technology (IT) have dramatically effected our profession and the type of
information it receives, uses and in the production of knowledge itself. IT
affects what we collect, how we collect it, how we express it and how it is
communicated. Major role changes in Social Work are occurring partly as the
direct result of advances in IT.
Graduate students in Social Work
require knowledge about the effects of IT on society and its clients.
Understanding the range of current uses, identifying emerging trends and
developing competency to optimize the use of IT for professional purposes is
essential. Additionally, threats to client well-being related to issues such as
confidentiality and privacy, depersonalization and discrimination need to be
continually addressed.
Students enrolled in this course
are expected to have at least minimal facility with a computer (i.e., word
processing skills) and outside access to a computer would be an advantage.
OBJECTIVES
This course offers an examination
of information technology and its impact on professional social work practice.
Current and emerging applications of the technology to social work practice will
be highlighted. Students are expected to achieve: an increased understanding of
the impact and potential of IT for Social Work; an increased familiarity with
the range of functions of IT at the micro, mezzo and macro levels of practice;
development of a critical appreciation of the promise and threats that IT
presents to social workers and their client systems; and an opportunity to
explore, in-depth, the role or impact of IT on a social work issue or the
development of a social work application using some form of information
technology. A major emphasis will be
placed on the Internet or World Wide Web (WWW) and students will be required to
develop knowledge and skill in using this global information resource, including
familiarity with WWW resources for social work practice.
FORMAT
The class will be limited in size
and will utilize OISE Lab 1 (3-325) and/or room 218 at the Faculty. Classes will involve seminars, some hands-on
activities, guest speakers, and computer presentations. Students will be expected
to utilize the Faculty computer network, E-Mail system and Internet
connections.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Instruction
will be learner-centred and students will be encouraged to collaborate and
share their interests, information and analysis with colleagues within the
class. Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor and each other
face-to-face, and via e-mail.
April 24th Held at FSW (room 218) first and later
at the OISE lab, room 3-325
Brief overview of course, readings,
resources, and assignments.
May 1st Held at OISE lab 1, room
3-325
Web site development
with Casey Pieterson. How to create HTML code (the language of the WWW) for
website development
*Explore a primer on HTML at http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html
*Questions to Consider When Developing A Human Services Website. See http://www.robertmacfadden.com/webdev.htm
.
May 8th Held at OISE lab, room
3-325
Social Work and social agencies on the Web
*Giffords, E. (1998). Social work on the Internet: An introduction.
Social Work, Vol.43, Number 3, May, 243-251. Available through university e-journals.
*MacFadden, R., and Pieterson, C. (1997).Child protection web sites:
New windows of opportunity. Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies
Journal, Vol. 41, Number 4, December. View at http://www.robertmacfadden.com/newwind.htm
.
Falk, D., (2004). Selected websites for high-to-low end NPO website
development. Journal of Technology in Human Services, Vol. 22(3), 81-88.
Available through university e-journals.
Berghoef, M. (2004). Website design and consultant choice resources.
Journal of Technology in Human Services, Vol. 22(3), 89-96. Available through university
e-journals.
Freddolino, P. (2003). Agency utilization of free Internet web sites.
Journal of Technology in Human Services, Vol. 22(1), 67-73. Available through
university e-journals.
May 15th Held
at FSW, room 218
Ethics, diversity, and
the Digital Divide
Class will view and discuss video
entitled, “Digital Divide” by
Primitive Productions and Global
TV, 2004.
*http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/02-03-wt2/www/J_Voon/ The Digital Divide in Canada.
*A Bill of Rights for the Information Age
(Glastonbury and
LaMendola, 1992) at
http://www.du.edu/~wlamendo/techumanity/techumanity.html
Bricout, J. (2001). Making computer-mediated education responsive to
the accommodation needs of students with disabilities. Journal of Social Work
Education, Vol. 37, No.2 (Spring/Summer 2001), 267-281. Available through
university e-journals.
http://webxact.watchfire.com/
A site to test web sites for accessibility.
http://www.advisory-unit.org.uk/itspnds.html IT and special education needs
May 22nd Holiday, no class
May 29th Held at OISE lab, room 3-325
Cyberabuse
*Spence-Diehl,
E. (2003). Stalking and technology: The double-edged sword. Journal of
Technology in Human Services, Vol. 22(1), 5-18. Available through university e-journals.
*Finn, J.,
Kerman, B. (2004). Internet risks for foster families online. Journal of
Technology in Human Services, 22 (4), 21-38. Available through university e-journals.
http://www.cybertip.ca/en/cybertip/ Canada’s tipline for reporting online sexual
exploitation
http://cyberwise.gc.ca/pdf/illegal_content_e.pdf
Illegal and offensive content on the Internet
http://cyberwise.gc.ca/pdf/wired_e.pdf
Young Canadians in a wired world: students’ views
http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.aspx
Be Web Aware
http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/NJOV_info_page.htm
Crimes Against Children
http://www.cyberbullying.ca/
A website focusing on cyberbullying
June 5th Held at OISE lab, room
3-325
Social work intervention and information technology
*Kenwright, M., Liness, S. Marks,
I. (2001). Reducing demands on
clinicians by offering computer-aided self-help for
phobia/panic:
Feasibility study. British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 179, 456-459.
*See http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/179/5/456[FearFighter
software, and http://www.fearfighter.com/
Schopler, J., Abell, M., Galinsky, M. (1998). Technology-based
groups: A review and conceptual framework for
practice. Social
Work, Volume 43, Number 3, May. 254-267. Available through university e-journals.
Lange, A., et al. (2000). “Interapy”: The effects of
a short
protocolled treatment of posttraumatic stress and pathological grief
through the Internet. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 28,
175-192. Available through university
e-journals.
June 12th Held at FSW, room 218
Cybertherapy and e-mail therapy
TherapEmailTM
*Kanani, K., Regehr, C. (2003).
Clinical, ethical, and legal issues in
e-therapy. Families in Society, 84, 2, 155-162. Available at
http://proquest.umi.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/pqdlink?index=6&did=383842701&SrchMode=3&sid=1&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1145482513&clientId=12520&aid=1
*Murphy, L.J., Mitchell, D. (1998). When writing helps to heal: E-mail
as therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, Vol. 26, No.1,
43-52. Available through university
e-journals
Bloom, J. W. (1998). The ethical practice of webcounselling. British
Journal of Guidance & Counseling, Vol. 26, No.1, 53-59. Available through university e-journals
King, Storm, Engi, S., Poulos, S. (1998). Using the Internet to assist
family therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. Vol.26, No. 1,
43-52. Available through university
e-journals
June 19th Held at OISE lab, room 3-325
Web-based education and training I
*Moore, B. (2005). Key Issues
in Web-Based Education in the
Human Services: A Review of the
Literature. Journal of Technology
in Human Services, Vol.23,
Issues 1 / 2, 11-28. Available through
university e-journals at:
*MacFadden, R. Souls on Ice:
Incorporating Emotion in
Web-based Education. In MacFadden, R. J.,
Homework:
Bring in some content for a three module course in an area that is interesting
to you Design the structure beforehand and bring to the June 26th
class. Further information will be provided.
June 26th Held at OISE lab, room 3-325
Assignment Due
Web-based education and training II
Design Your
Own Web-Based Course. This session will involve
constructing
your own web-based course with different types of
features.
You will use Blackboard which is a learning platform/
course
development software used by the university.
*Blackboard
Quick Reference Guide at
http://rcat.utoronto.ca/blackboard/quickstartrefguide.doc
REQUIRED
ASSIGNMENTS
Assignment #1
Assignment #1 is an eight page,
double-spaced paper with bibliography which addresses the questions for one of
the options below. This assignment is worth 30% of the final grade and is due May 15th, 2006.
If you intend to complete Option
A for the second assignment, please respond to the following questions:
1. What will be the objectives of your
website?
2. How will the site reflect specific
values (e.g., organizational, personal)?
3. How will you know if the website is
successful?
4. What are the primary messages to be
conveyed by your website?
5. Who are the target groups for this
website?
6. How will the needs of each of the
target groups be addressed?
7. Will there be any user involvement
in the development of this site? What kind?
8. How will the site focus on the
target groups in terms of content and messages, level of language and
conceptualization, colours, space, font types, interactivity, graphics,
pictures, navigation, complexity and other features? How are these appropriate for the target groups?
9. What types of functions will the
website offer (e.g., information, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, social
action, etc.)?
10. How interactive will the website be?
11. What types of diversity will the
website address?
12. What ethical issues might be
involved in developing this website?
If you intend to complete Option
B for the second assignment, please respond to the following questions:
1. What are the objectives of your
application?
2. What values does the
application reflect?
3. How will you know if the
application is successful?
4. Who are the target groups for
the application?
5. Will there be any involvement
of the potential users in the application development?
6. What are the hardware and
software details?
7. What functions does the
application offer?
8. Will your application consider
the special needs of various users?
9. Are there any ethical dimensions
considered in the development of this application?
If you intend to complete Option
C for the second assignment, please respond to the following questions:
Assignment #2
Assignment #2 is worth 70% of the
final grade and the due date is June 26th,
2006. There are three options for the second assignment within this course.
Option A involves the
development of a social work related website that reflects your intent as
expressed in assignment #1. Include your original assignment #1 and add an
addendum that explains any changes from what you intended and rationales for
these changes. The website should contain five or more screens.
Option B involves
the development of an IT application that is relevant to social work. The topic
should be discussed with the instructor. The application option should include
submission of assignment #1 and add an addendum that explains any changes from
what you intended in assignment #1 and rationales for these changes. You may
wish to use existing software such as PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, Excel,
Access, and Visio as examples, to construct your application.
Option C is a
paper with a length of 20 double-spaced pages with supporting bibliography and
appendices, subject to the requirements of a graduate paper. This paper option
should reflect what you outlined in assignment #1. Add an appendix which describes
any changes you made in the paper from the outline in assignment #1 and the
rationale for these changes.
.
DUE DATES:
May 15, 2006. First Assignment
June 26th, 2006. Second
Assignment.
Late assignments are subject to a
one-half grade reduction. Please note
that if the assignment option you choose involves constructing a website or an
application, this is a very different process than writing a paper. You need to
start very early and build your knowledge and skill as your construct your
project. You cannot leave the development until near the end of the course.
Itcourseout2006.doc