Oh. I've BTDT with social work students, so I feel your pain :-)
What I do depends on the students. For social work students (or other
practitioners - I've had this issue with nurses & probation officers
too) I try to structure the curriculum so that they can see the
relevance of social policy in their particular area of practice. So for
community nurses you might look at the policy drivers behind the
development of the NHS and primary care, and then show specific
research-based examples relevant to them (eg when looking at
quasi-markets and new public management in health, showing examples of
targets affecting nursing practice - eg on clearing beds in A&E, or
immunisations rates). For social workers you might look at community
care policy as another example of this - show how it has affected their
practice (why they do 'assessments', for example). Find research
examples where you quote the experiences of practitioners at them.
For non-practitioners (eg first year undergraduates) I try to engage
them by showing how the welfare state impacts directly on them -
healthcare & visiting the GP is one universal experience that is a good
explanation (eg as an example of rationing, new public management,
governance, funding, structures, citizenship, ethics, conditionality,
activation.....whatever it is you are teaching!). Case studies that are
universal are good starts - eg cervical cancer screening - can be used
to discuss gender in the welfare state, how GPs get paid, citizenship
rights and duties (is it your 'fault' if you die of cancer and didn't go
to the screening and should the NHS therefore not treat you?) healthcare
organisation, employment and professional hierarchies in the welfare
state, welfare and state-citizen relationships, resources, demand
management, neo-liberalism.....
You get the picture. Make it about *them*.
Kirstein
-----Original Message-----
From: Social-Policy is run by SPA for all social policy specialists
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Ellison
Sent: 08 April 2008 11:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Getting students interested about social policy
From: Paul Henman
Sent: Monday, 7 April 2008 11:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: getting students interested about social policy
Hi colleagues
I am emailing the SPA e-list to see what other social policy teaching
staff do to get students excited about social policy. What have people
found successful? Has anyone written about their experiences?
I am teaching social policy to mainly social work students who think
social policy is irrelevant and dull. Any pointers?
Thanks for any feedback.
Paul
(Dr) Paul Henman
BSW Honours Coordinator
Senior Lecturer, Social Policy Unit
School of Social Work and Human Services
University of Queensland QLD 4072
Phone: +61 7 3365 1845
Fax: +61 7 3365 1788
[log in to unmask]
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