Digital Technologies in Social Work

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:4.00

Study Course Accepted:29.08.2024 11:14:34

Study Course Information
Course Code:		LUSDK_257		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Sociology		Target Audience:		Social Welfare and Social Work
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Daniel Markovič
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Rehabilitation
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, socdkrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061575
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		4	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		8
Classes (count)		12	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		24
Total Contact Hours								32
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		2	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		4
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Not required.
Objective:
Become familiar with the range of assistive technologies, communication tools and online systems that social workers could use for delivering services. Explore how information and communication technology (ICT) affects the individual, families and communities. Explain to clients the technologies that they use in their everyday lives to meet their needs.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Electronic systems (software) to facilitate day-to-day work of and by social workers (e.g. email, electronic case management systems, business software such as email, calendar and collaborative technologies such as SharePoint and instant messaging). Online resources for professionals and people using social work services (e.g. apps and websites). Assistive technologies for people using services (e.g. communication aids and robotics).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
2	Social media and social networking interfaces (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Skype, WhatsApp). Informatics – how information, including large data sets, is used and analysed through computation, and how data is used strategically to determine the aggregate need and to monitor and improve services (e.g. performance management software used by social work managers) Data protection, privacy and the use of personal, identifiable data.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
3	Information management (e.g. search, retrieval, data security and access issues). Hardware (e.g. smartphones, mobile devices and web-enabled laptops). Online learning (e.g. professional e-learning, online courses, webinars, online communities of practice). Artificial Intelligence and machine learning - for processing large amounts of data about the population to predict their needs.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
4	Digital literacy for social workers: Instrumental skills, structural skills, strategic skills.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Online and technology needs. Understanding the online and technology needs of people using services (different client groups).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Delivering services through digital technology (social work interventions online). An excursion/study visit in an entity that provides distance crisis intervention.			Classes		2.00	other
7	Ethical decision-making: knowledge and skills (ethical decisions, ethical mistakes).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Online safeguarding: knowledge and skills (risks with using digital technology for children and adults).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Electronic systems (software) to facilitate day-to-day work of and by social workers (e.g. email, electronic case management systems, business software such as email, calendar and collaborative technologies such as SharePoint and instant messaging). Online resources for professionals and people using social work services (e.g. apps and websites). Assistive technologies for people using services (e.g. communication aids and robotics).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Social media and social networking interfaces (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Skype, WhatsApp). Informatics – how information, including large data sets, is used and analysed through computation, and how data is used strategically to determine the aggregate need and to monitor and improve services (e.g. performance management software used by social work managers) Data protection, privacy and the use of personal, identifiable data.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Information management (e.g. search, retrieval, data security and access issues). Hardware (e.g. smartphones, mobile devices and web-enabled laptops). Online learning (e.g. professional e-learning, online courses, webinars, online communities of practice). Artificial Intelligence and machine learning - for processing large amounts of data about the population to predict their needs.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Digital literacy for social workers: Instrumental skills, structural skills, strategic skills.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Online and technology needs. Understanding the online and technology needs of people using services (different client groups).			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Delivering services through digital technology (social work interventions online). An excursion/study visit in an entity that provides distance crisis intervention.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Ethical decision-making: knowledge and skills (ethical decisions, ethical mistakes).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Online safeguarding: knowledge and skills (risks with using digital technology for children and adults).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Studying literature sources, getting acquainted with research, individual and group groups.
Assessment Criteria:
Attendance – 20%. Individual (group) work – 40%. Exam – 40%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		• Gain insight into the technologies and apps that enable social work online • Understanding the online and technology needs of people using services (clients/service users) • Understanding of communication tools and platforms • Be familiar with online safeguarding • Knowing how to safely share appropriate data with colleagues
Skills:		• Delivering services through digital technology and online platforms • Act in service users best interests during the use of technologies • Create the content on online platforms and social media • Evaluate the validity and reliability of information • Use information retrieval strategies
Competencies:		• By completing the study course, the student will be able to use a wide range of digital tools to provide social work interventions. He/she will be able to analyse the digital needs of clients and support their digital competencies. • He/she will be prepared for ethical decision-making in online world. • Encourage and instruct clients to perform everyday tasks online (e. g. sending a Facebook message; applying for a job online; paying bills with an app; checking what day the bins are collected on the local council website, etc.)
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Rafferty, J., & Steyaert, J. Social work in a digital society. In M. Lymbery, & K. Postle (Eds.), Social work: A companion to learning (pp. 165-176). SAGE Publications Ltd. 2007.
2	NHS. A Health and Care Digital Capabilities Framework. 2018. [E-book].
3	Aramburu, L., & Marcuello-Servós, C. Digital generation, emotions and social movements: A conceptual framework. In M. Lisboa, & D. Cerejo (Eds.), Complexity sciences: Theoretical and empirical approaches to social action (pp. 65–78). Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 2018.
Additional Reading
1	University of Stirling, Westwood, J., Needham, K., & Watson, I. Review of Social Work Future Skills. 2015.