Before and After: Digital story telling with social work students in Northern Ireland

Denise MacDermott; Caoimhe Harkin-MacDermott; Siobhan Wylie

doi:10.1921/jpts.v16i1.1231

Authors

Denise MacDermott Ulster University Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy Lecturer in social work | School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences| Ulster University | Magee Campus | L’Derry | BT48 7JL | Northern Ireland. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6885-629X
Caoimhe Harkin-MacDermott Bryson Care Practice Learning Centre Gortfoyle House 104-108 Spencer Road Derry City BT47 6AG
Siobhan Wylie Bryson Care Practice Learning Centre 28 Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7FE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v16i1.1231

Abstract

Abstract: This article is developed from a presentation given at the 12th International practice teaching conference in Oxford (2018). The authors share their experiences as academics and practice educators of using digital storytelling with social work students in Northern Ireland. Storytelling took place at two distinct points of the students’ learning journey before and after placement. Undergraduate social work students (n=40) in their first semester of year one teaching participated in classroom based digital storytelling with the first author. Placement students created digital stories at two key points during their placements, at the beginning (first to third week of placement) and at the end (16th to 18th week of placement). Several themes emerged including; self-evaluation and reflection, producing and receiving feedback and team work. This collaborative article offers a basis for practice development and professional discussions across disciplines on the use of digital storytelling with students studying for a professional qualification.

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