Perspectives on social work signature pedagogy in Canada

You are invited to participate in an inquiry guided by the following question: In what ways do Canadian social work faculty and field staff understand and experience social work's signature pedagogy? Shulman (2005) identifies that professions develop signature pedagogies that are intended to prepare future practitioners for responsible practice and service to others. We are curious about how faculty and field staff in Canadian universities observe the ways in which social work students are prepared for professional practice. Signature pedagogies are pervasive, recognizable and routine; examples of signature pedagogies from various professions include case dialogue methods in law and clinical bedside teaching in medicine (Shulman, 2005). What then, we wonder, is pervasive, recognizable and routine in social work education?

 

Survey questions have been informed by focus groups conducted at one Canadian university in which social work students, faculty and field staff were asked about their understandings of social work pedagogy. 

 

The survey is divided into 5 sections: demographic and general questions on social work pedagogy; specific questions under three themes that emerged from the focus group data; and concluding questions. Completing this survey will take between 10-15 minutes.

 

There are no known risks associated with this study and your anonymity will be preserved. You may withdraw at any time without consequence.The results of this research may also be published in professional journals or presented at conferences. Only aggregated findings illustrated at times by short, non-identifying quotes will be used. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the study findings, or if you have any questions about this study, please contact Dr. Beth Archer-Kuhn at beth.archerkuhn@ucalgary.ca or 403.220.5425. 

This study has been approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculty Research Ethics Board: REB 17-0439.

 

The first question of this survey asks for your consent to participate in this study. By clicking "yes" below, you are providing informed consent and understand that the results of the study will be analyzed and disseminated.