Abstracto

Are Social Work College Students Entering the Workforce with Enough Technology Skills to Meet the Needs of Agencies?

Brendan G. Beal

This research study used a primarily descriptive approach to assess the critical technology skills of social work students at a large southern United States university that were placed within an internship during their final semester. A cross-sectional survey was sent to students and field supervisors regarding technology usage in the field. It was found that supervisors agreed that students are technologically proficient coming into placements and that the most useful skills included how to use documentation software, smartphones, teleconferencing, and the Internet in general. There were differences in student and instructor responses regarding where students receive technology training. This research study was conducted to understand the technology-related needs of agencies and if incoming social workers are learning those skills at school or somewhere else.