Course information - Internal
WELF 5097 (2011)
Building Knowledge for Social Work Practice
Course Coordinator: Dr Nicole Moulding
Contents
Introduction
Course overview
Learning resources
Assessment
Feedback form
Course calendar (see inside back cover)
This Course information needs to be read in conjunction with Extra course information available at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ltu/staff/practice/materials/course-information/extra.asp. It can also be accessed through myUniSA at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/myUniSA/.
Introduction
Welcome
Welcome to Building Knowledge for Social Work Practice. The course is designed to meet the individual learning needs of students and seeks to build on your existing disciplinary knowledge from your previous degree. The aim of the course is to identify the diverse disciplinary knowledge drawn upon for professional social work practice and leadership, and to apply them to key social problems encountered in the human services field. This will include a focus on the core disciplinary knowledge areas of sociology, psychology and political science/social policy.
I am a professional social worker and academic with research and teaching expertise in social work, sociology, gender studies and mental health. We will be joined throughout the course by other social work academics from the school with expertise in the knowledge areas listed above, reflecting the diverse nature of the material to be explored.
I look forward to a stimulating and exciting time supporting you in your learning.
Nicole Moulding
Course Coordinator
Location: Magill Campus, Room H1-22
Email:
Telephone: (08) 8302 4314
Course Coordinator homepage: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/Homepage.asp?Name=nicole.moulding
Information regarding this course is available through myUniSA: http://www.unisa.edu.au/myUniSA/
School contact details
University of South Australia
Magill Campus
Amy Wheaton Building, St Bernards Road,
Magill SA 5070
Telephone: (08) 8302 4367
Fax: (08) 8302
Email:
Course overview
Prerequisite(s)/ Assumed knowledge
None
Course objectives
To identify the diverse disciplinary knowledge’s drawn upon for professional social work practice and leadership, to evaluate and demonstrate familiarity with this knowledge, and address and explore new knowledge consistent with social work values and ethics.
On completion of this course, students should be able to:
a) critically examine new areas of knowledge
b) apply knowledge of human development, political science and sociology to social work practice situations with individuals, groups, organisations and communities
c) critically analyse the nature of disadvantage and the contribution of social work practice to challenging and addressing it
d) critically explore the demographic, cultural and socio-economic diversity of Indigenous experiences in Australia
e) critically analyse contemporary social issues and practice situations in terms of social work ethics and values
f) analyse theories of leadership and apply these to the human services context
Course Objectives / Graduate Qualities being developed though the courseGQ1 / GQ2 / GQ3 / GQ4 / GQ5 / GQ6 / GQ7
Objective (a) / X / X / X / X
Objective (b) / X / X
Objective (c) / X / X
Objective (d) / X / X / X
Objective (e) / X / X / X
Objective (f) / X / X / X
Graduate Qualities
A graduate of UniSA:
- operates effectively with and upon a body of knowledge of sufficient depth to begin professional practice
- is prepared for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal development and excellence in professional practice
- is an effective problem solver, capable of applying logical, critical and creative thinking to a range of problems
- can work both autonomously and collaboratively as a professional
- is committed to ethical action and social responsibility as a professional and citizen
- communicates effectively in professional practice and as a member of the community
- demonstrates international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen.
Course content
Professional development; lifelong learning; social work values and ethics, human development, social policy, sociology, social disadvantage; mental health, diversity of Indigenous social, economic and political contexts (past and present), social work responses to social problems, leadership.
Teaching and learning arrangements
This course is taught through workshops.
Unit value of course
4.5 units
Additional assessment requirements
None
Learning resources
Text
You will need continual access to the following text(s) to complete this course. The library does not hold multiple copies of the nominated text books. You are strongly recommended to purchase the book(s).
O’Connor, I, Wilson, J, Setterlund, D & Hughes, M. (2008) Social Work and Human Service Practice, Pearson Longman: French’s Forest
Other relevant Texts
Because this course focuses on a diversity of disciplinary knowledge bases, students will need access to other specific books and journal articles depending on the learning goals identified in their individual study plans. A selection is presented below. In addition to these, there are many eReadings that can be accessed online via the course web site.
Please see course website for a more detailed list of books across the different disciplinary knowledge areas relevant to this course.
Social Work
AASW (2002) Code of Ethics, Australian Association of Social Workers, Canberra.
Brill, N. (2005) Working with People (8th ed.) N.Y: Longman.
Dominelli, L. (2008) Anti-racist social work, 3rd Edition Basingstoke Palgrave MacMillan
Fook, J., Ryan, M., Hawkins, L. (2000) Professional Expertise: practice, theory and education for working in uncertainty, London, Whiting and Birch.
Hepworth, D.H. and Larsen, J.A, (2006) Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills (7th edition), Pacific Grove, California, Brooks/Cole.
Ife, J (2008) Human rights and social work towards rights-based practice Cambridge University Press
Mehr, Joseph J. & Kanwischer Ronald, (2008) Human Services: Concepts and Intervention Strategies, 10th ed, Allyn & Bacon
Pease, B., Fook, J. (eds) (1999) Transforming social work practice, St Leonards, NSW, Allen and Unwin.
Sociology:
Abercrombie, N Hill, S. and Turner, B. S, (2000) The Penguin Dictionary of Sociology, 4th edition, Penguin Books Australia, Victoria.
Bessant S & Watts, R. 2007, Sociology Australia, 3rd ed, Allen & Unwin Crows Nest, NSW.
Connell, R.W 2000, The Men and the Boys, Allen and Unwin Sydney.
Cohen, R & Kennedy, P 2000, Global Sociology, Houndmills/London, Macmillian.
Dominelli, L. (1997) Sociology for Social Work, London, Macmillan Press.
Stillwell, F 1993, Economic Inequality: Who Gets What in Australia, Pluto Press, Melbourne.
van Krieken, R Habibis, D; Smith P; Hutchins, B: K; Haralambos, M and Holborn, M. (2006) Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. 3rd edition. Pearson Education Australia Pty Ltd, New South Wales.
Willis, E 2004, The Sociological Quest: an introduction to the study of social life, Allen and Unwin, Sydney.
Political Science/Social Policy:
Althaus, C., Bridgeman, P., Davis, G., 2007, The Australian Policy Handbook, (4th edition), Allen and Unwin, NSW.
Fenna, A, Australian Public Policy, Second Edition, Pearson, 2004.
Giddens, A., (ed) The Global Third Way Debate, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2001.
Healy, J., Welfare Options, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998.
Jamrozik, A. Social Policy in the Post-Welfare State: Australian Society in the Twenty
First Century. Second Edition, Pearson Longman, Melbourne, 2005.
Stilwell, F. Political Economy – The Contest of Economic Ideas (2nd edition). Oxford University Press,
Victoria Australia, 2006.
Woodward, D. 2005 Australia Unsettled: The Legacy of Neo-liberalism, Pearson,Education Australia,
Psychology
Barber, J 2003, Social work through the life cycle, Tertiary Press, Victoria.
Baruth, LG & Lee Manning M 2003, Multicultural counselling and psychotherapy – a lifespan perspective, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Beckett, C 2002, Human growth and development, Sage Press, London.
Bucher, RD 2004, Diversity consciousness – opening our minds to people, cultures, and opportunities, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Broderick, PC & Blewitt, P 2006, The life span – human development for helping professionals, 2nd edn, Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Papalia, D, Olds, S & Feldman, R 2007, Human development, 10th edn, McGraw Hill, New York.
Materials to be accessed online
Course homepage and myUniSA
The course web site can be found at: http://learn.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=19867
There are substantial online resources including eReadings, access to databases and useful websites
across all sub-disciplinary areas relevant to this course via the course website.
Extra course information
The Extra course information booklet provides important information relevant to the study of all your courses. This can be accessed at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ltu/staff/practice/materials/course-information/extra.asp from the course homepage and myUniSA.
Assessment
Assessment summary
5orm of assessment / Length / Weighting / Due date / Graduate Quality/Qualities being assessedStudy Plan / 1,000 words / 25% / 14th March 5pm / 1,2,3
Portfolio / 1,500 words / 30% / 2nd May 5pm / 1,3,5, 7
Case study / 2,000 words / 45% / 13th June 5pm / 1,3,5
Assessment details
Details of assessment submission and return are listed under each assessment task. Assessment tasks will be returned to you within two to three weeks of submission.
All assignments must use the Assignment cover sheet (available from your Course homepage and in myUniSA)—if submitted in hard copy.
Details of assessment submission and return are listed under each assessment task. Assessment
Extensions will be granted for students experiencing unexpected and extenuating circumstances, which may include: accidents (sporting, motor vehicle, etc) where an injury is sustained; unexpected illness (including a disability or illness, for which variations have already been made), that has been compounded by an unexpected change in the condition or an additional condition; or bereavement.
Application for extensions (written assignments only) must be made to your tutor (i.e. not the Course Coordinator) no less than three days before the assignment due date. Late applications for extensions will not be considered.
Late assignments (written assignments) will incur a 5% grade reduction for the first day overdue and a further 3% for each subsequent day until the assignment is submitted.
Resubmission of assignments will be considered for students who achieve an F1 (40-49%). A pass of a re-submission will be granted a maximum mark of 50%.
Re-marking : a student who considers that an individual assessment has been unfairly or inappropriately assessed must first contact the course coordinator to discuss the original mark within five working days of the return of the assessment. A student then has the right to request a re-mark. Should a student request remarking, the second mark stands whether it is higher or lower, with no further remarks permitted. Please refer to University Assessment Policies and Procedures: http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/manual/2007/2007_APPM.pdf
Occasionally assignments go missing during submission and return. It is expected that students will retain copies of all assignments and be able to provide these if required.
PLEASE NOTE: Students must submit and pass all pieces of assessment in order to be eligible to pass the course.
Assessments
Assessment 1—Study Plan: 1,000 words (25%)
Due Date: Monday 14th March 5pm
The Study Plan involves students undertaking an assessment of the areas in which they need to build knowledge (with staff support) and developing a Study Plan that reflects this. The Study Plan involves:
1. Identifying those areas where you have knowledge already, and briefly demonstrating your beginning understanding of the relevance of some of the key concepts to social work – this requires you to have a beginning familiarity with the social work text for the course. (400 words)
2. Identifying those areas where you need to develop your knowledge. (100 words)
3. Listing the relevant texts you will read over the next few weeks in the area(s) you are building knowledge (at least 25 in total). This will include books, book chapters and journal articles. Please note: the list will not contribute towards the total word count).
4. Briefly explaining your beginning understanding of how the knowledge area(s) you are building are relevant to social work purpose, values and ethics – this will also require you to have a beginning familiarity with the social work text for the course. (500 words)
Marking Criteria:
· Identification of relevant texts (20%)
· Demonstration of developing understanding of how the key concepts are relevant to social work (60%)
· Effective written communication skills (20%).
Use of UniSA Harvard Style referencing is required: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/learningAdvisors/documents/harvard-referencing.pdf
This assignment assesses development towards graduate qualities 1, 3, 5 & 7.
This assignment will be completed in the usual way as a Word document and submitted via AssignIT.
Assignments are normally returned within two weeks unless an extension has been granted.
Feedback on this assessment will be provided on the Feedback form, a copy of which is included at the back of this booklet.
Assessment 2—Portfolio: 1,500 words (30%)
Due Date: Monday 2nd May 5pm
This assessment draws on the Study Plan through the presentation of an annotated bibliography of selected texts you have been reading. An annotated bibliography is a list of sources in which each item is briefly summarised and critiqued. The objective is to demonstrate that you have gained a level of familiarity with the topic(s) identified in your Study Plan. You are also asked to identify the relevance of the texts to social work, including the relevance to social work values and ethics.
10 entries of approximately 150 words each are required. If you are building knowledge in more than one area, include texts from each of these.
The annotated bibliography should be set out in the following way:
· Full citation details (these will not contribute to the total word count);
· Summary of the text;
· Critique;
· Relevance to social work.
Online resources to help you with writing an annotated bibliography:
Writing an Annotated Bibliography - http://www.unisa.edu.au/ltu/students/study/referencing/bibliography.asp#What
Marking Criteria:
§ Demonstration of understanding of a body of knowledge (40%)
· Demonstration of application of a body of knowledge to social work (40%)
· Effective written communication skills (20%).
Use of UniSA Harvard Style referencing is required: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/student/learningAdvisors/documents/harvard-referencing.pdf
This assignment assesses development towards graduate qualities 1,3 & 6
This assignment will be completed in the usual way as a Word document and submitted via AssignIT.
Assignments are normally returned within two weeks unless an extension has been granted.
Feedback on this assessment will be provided on the Feedback form, a copy of which is included at the back of this booklet.