Abstract:

This United States University of international consequence located in the region of Tamps Bay Florida, utilizes flexible learning strategies to instruct over 17,000 students from 61 countries throughout the world. Education is provided via online, blended learning and on campus classes, in graduate and undergraduate courses. The Saint Leo model of preferred pedagogy expands the limits of traditional pedagogical models of curriculum delivery by offering courses through a variety of models including live web base classes, online courses, blended learning and face-to-face classes.

The Graduate School of Social Work utilizes a model of blended synchronous live web streamed classes and asynchronous online classes. Advanced clinical social work skills are taught using a variety of synchronous live web based role play practice demonstrations to prepare students as graduate level trained licensed clinical social workers.

Much has been written on using web based learning to inform education, however the power of teaching advanced clinical social work interventional skills in a blended learning format relies on the educator’s ability to support multiple modes of communication. Taking into account the various learning styles of students and providing opportunities for self-directed and collaborative learning, educators are able to facilitate a formidable course experience. This paper focuses on pushing the limits of traditional pedagogical approaches in education by combining visionary graduate social work education initiatives with traditional learning goals and outcomes by providing examples of live web based teaching strategies in advanced clinical group counseling skills to instruct graduate social work students.

Keywords:

Virtual learning environments, synchronous learning, blended learning.