SWK 705, WI, SW FALL

Course Title

SWK 705. Sections WI, SW Fall 2016

Day(s) Time: Web-based Class

Instructor information
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Course description

This foundation course is for working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Theories and concepts of human development throughout the life cycle are presented and critiqued within the person-in-environment perspective. The framework is multidimensional, considering the impact of ability, age, class, exploitation, ethnicity, gender, oppression, political belief system, race, religion, sexual orientation, and the social environment on human behavior and development. Students learn to identify multiple determinants of human behavior using examples from all levels of social work practice in local, national, and international rural and small town communities.

Course objectives

Upon completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following competency:

Competency 6–Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities: Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate.

1. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and

2. Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Course instructional methods

This is an online class. The class will include case study review, and direct practice observations. A course web-site will be available to students for handouts, study guides, discussion boards, and electronic communication with national and international social workers involved with current issues relevant to the course. All assignments must be turned-in under the discussion board or drop box. Evidence-based social work practice will be followed in this course. No references older than 10 years old will be accepted. Evidence or research must be included in all discussions. This online course follows the standards of the Quality Matters rubric.

Communication Policy

Student Communication

Post your questions about the course requirements, content, assignments, etc., on the Discussion Board. The Discussion Board can be found under Course Home. Emails about course requirements, content, assignments, will be posted and answered on the discussion board. Please use the course email system for all emails about your grades and your progress. Include in subject heading the course number and site along with your inquiry. All correspondence via email must have a salutation. I will make every attempt to respond to emails within a 24 hour period-Monday thru Friday.

Grade Book Updates

Grades will be added and updated on a regular schedule through D2L. If you have any questions about your grades at any time, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am sensitive to your desire to know where you stand in the course; therefore, I will make every attempt to keep the grade book updated.

Course Complaints

I welcome any comments or criticism about the course. You may send them to me via the course email system or discuss them with me via phone. Students who have complaints with any aspect of the course should first contact me. If I cannot resolve the problem to the student's satisfaction, then the student may contact the Program Director, I expect professional conduct from students. Complaining about the course or the instructor in the course discussion board or anywhere in the online course environment will not be tolerated.

Netiquette: Etiquette for the World of Online Communication

Most, if not all, of the communication in this course will occur online. It is sometimes difficult to remember that there are real people reading our messages. Words can mean many things, and what we intend to say is not always what others hear. This is especially true of "online communication" where others do not have the opportunity to see your "body language" or hear your tone; therefore, they have a greater possibility of misunderstanding what you truly mean. For those reasons, users of the internet have come up with guidelines for net communication aimed at lessening the chances of miscommunication and perceived disrespect. Please, follow these guidelines in all of your online responses and discussion groups.

Respect all who are participating in this learning community by

• honoring their right to their opinions

• respecting the right of each person to disagree with others

• responding honestly but thoughtfully and respectfully using language which others will not consider foul or abusive

• always signing your name to any contribution you choose to make

• respecting your own privacy and the privacy of others by not revealing information which you deem private and which you feel might embarrass you or others

• being constructive in your responses to others in the class

• being prepared to clarify statements which might be misunderstood or misinterpreted by others

One good way to avoid problems is to reread your postings before sending them. Something written in haste may not say what you really think after the heat of the moment has passed.

A Special Note about Anger

• Do not send messages that you have written when you are angry. You will almost always be sorry because anger almost always inspires anger in others.

• In the online world, angry messages are known as “flaming” and are

considered very bad behavior.

• Do not send messages that are written all in upper case; this is the visual equivalent of SHOUTING. It is considered aggressive, and in the online world, it is considered very bad behavior. If you ever feel like shouting a message, take a deep breath and wait until you have calmed down before responding. Then, respond in a calm and factual manner.

Course required text and materials

Hutchison, E. D. (2013). Essentials of human behavior: Integrating person, environment, and the life course. Los Angeles: Sage

Payne, M. (2014). Modern social work theory (4th Ed.). Chicago: Lyceum Books.

Recommended resources for additional exploration

Most of the required and recommended journal readings can be obtained on-line through EBSCOHost with the CAL Card ID number. These readings can be accessed from computers on or off campus. Readings not available through EBSCOhost will be made available to students in class or through the Social Work Department office in Azorsky.

The Encyclopedia of Social Work, lists most of the early social workers who developed a number of assessment and intervention models that still influence social work practice at this time. Some names to look for include: Mary Richmond, Jane Addams, Porter Lee, Charlotte Towle, Gordon Hamilton, Helen Pearlman, Florence Hollis, Carole Germaine,

Attendance and participation expectations

Note: Two missed classes will result in a lowered final grade. For example, an A will become an A-. Three missed classes will result in a final grade of F.

Threaded Discussions

Date Due: Weekly by Friday at 11:59PM

Length: Varied

Specifications: Threaded discussions of specific weekly topics

Value: 38.5 points for each discussion.

Test Your Knowledge Assignments: Discussions

Throughout the course, there are several Test Your Knowledge Assignments that require

you to engage in discussion with your peers using a discussion board. Grading these threaded discussions can be a difficult task. Specific instructions will be given for these types of learning activities. You are required to answer all discussion questions to the best of your ability. I expect you to think outside of the box. Pull in resources other than the required reading and reflect upon your current or previous experience. To assist you in getting a feel for what I am looking for, please use the grading rubric below to help you complete discussion assignments.

Evaluation

0-9 points

Did not fully follow or complete discussion outline, or active learning exercise.

10-20 points

An adequate response to the specific questions posed in the discussion summary. Provide evidence to support assertions. Demonstrates evidence that the material was read. Entered into the discussion but did not contribute personal insight or enhance the exchange between classmates.

21-30 points

Appears to have read the material and contributed thoughtful insights to the questions asked; demonstrated a positive interaction with peers; and, demonstrated an interest in expanding the current knowledge base. Provide evidence to support thoughts from multiple authors.

31- 38.5 points

Clearly spent time with the material; provided additional thoughts/comments relative to the performance enhancement professional; brought additional dimension(s) to the discussion beyond the questions asked; Demonstrates a desire to learn and enjoyment in intellectual exchange. Interact with peers by responding to one or more discussion threads. Responds to all questions posed by peers. Provide evidence to support thoughts from multiple authors.

All discussions must be completed within the allotted time frame. No late discussions will be accepted. If you anticipate needing additional time to complete a session, or need access to the materials early, please contact me as soon as possible.

I will make every effort to provide the assignment to those with extraordinary circumstances.

Action / Result
One class missed / No effect on grade
Two classes missed / Overall lower grade
Three or more classes missed / Automatic F

Summary of assignments

Basic concepts of human development throughout the life cycle are presented within the person-in-environment perspective. The framework used is multidimensional,

considering the impact of ability, age, class, ethnicity, gender, oppression, political belief system, race, religion, sexual orientation, and the social environment on human behavior and development. As a faculty, we have agreed that in addition to ecological systems theory and related models (e.g., the life stage model), that students need to learn developmental theory important to historic and contemporary social work practice. SWK705 includes classic stage-related theory that informs more contemporary developments in ego psychology and the psychology of learning and cognition (e.g., Freud and Erikson). SWK 705 also provides students with theories, perspectives and models related to cognition, and communication. Theory and knowledge related to human biology and the neurological system are also a focus, to understand the long-term implications of deprivation, crisis and trauma. Human relations and organizational theory are also taught in SWK705. Examples of assessment and intervention strategies across levels of practice are taken from local, national, and international rural and small communities.

Assignment / Objectives related to assignment / Relative value / Due date
1. Quizzes. Chapters 1, 2, 6,11,12, 14, 15,& 16 / 114.5 points
2. Rural Client Observation Paper / 160 points / Oct. 31st
3. Life Course/PIE Interview / 225 points / Dec. 9th
4. Class Attendance and Constructive Participation (13 discussions x 38.5 points each) / 500.5 points

Grading scale and procedures

Students who believe that they have already mastered HBSE course content have the option of taking a comprehensive exam to test-out of the course. To schedule the exam, contact the MSW Program Director and the current HBSE course instructor. The test combines content from HBSE textbooks, required readings, and lectures with questions involving the ethical application of content to social work practice at all three levels.

Final grades for students enrolled in the course will be assigned on the basis of the number of points earned. The points available, and the corresponding grades, are listed below:

Hutchison chapter quizzes (1,2,6,11,12,14,15,& 16)…..……114.5 points

Rural Client Observation Paper Due October 31st ..………….160 points

Life Course/PIE Interview Paper Due December 9th …. …..…225 points

Class Attendance and Constructive Participation……… … 500.5 points

Maximum Total Points 1000 points

Discussions: 13 x 38.5 points

*APA style required on all assignments. All assignments must have documentation to support your ideas. No references over 10 years will be accepted. Wikipedia will not be accepted in this course.

Note: Two missed classes will result in a lowered final grade. For example, an A will become an A-. Three missed classes will result in a final grade of F.

All assignments, course discussions, and quizzes are due on Fridays by 11:59PM. No late postings will be accepted. No bullets accepted in any assignments. I need you to tell me what you’re saying so I don’t infer or guess. References older than 10 years will not be accepted (-5pts). No reference page included in assignments (– 5pts). References fewer than required ( – 8 pts). Subheadings are required in all paper assignments. Subheadings help guide the development of a paper and assist reader (-3pts.), if no sub-headings.

Since many of the discussions and assignments are loaded with multiple questions that need a response, I would suggest that you put a check mark next to each question that you’ve answered to ensure that all questions have been answered completely. You don’t want to lose points by not responding to a question.

A 1000-930 / A- 929-900 / B+ 899-870 B 869-830 / B- 829-800
C+ 799-770 / C 769-700 / F 699 and below

*Plagiarism might result in a grade of F for each of these assignments. Wikipedia cannot be used as a reference in any of the class assignments, including discussions.

Support for students with disabilities

Students with Disabilities

· Reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations;

· Will register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) each semester to receive accommodations;

· Might be required to communicate with faculty for accommodations which specifically involve the faculty;

· Will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting accommodations that involve the faculty.

Office for Students with Disabilities

Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office