‘We hear not just the words’
An evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21495916 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joanne Westwood (0000-0002-7560-1391, University of Lancashire, corresponding author), Mary-Clare Davidson (University of Lancashire), Aidan Worsley (0000-0002-3925-3297, Social Work England), Alexandra Keelan (Keelan Taylor Films) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-24 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Work Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0261-5479 • E-ISSN: 1470-1227 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02615479.2025.2581713 |
| OpenAlex | W7106502843 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
This paper explores the effectiveness of using podcasts in social work education to foster student learning and engagement. There is a long tradition of innovation and creativity in the teaching of social work students locally and globally—and an emerging body of international pedagogical research exploring the use of podcasts and storytelling in social work education to which this study contributes. Building on adult learning principles, a series of case studies were co-created by practitioners and academics, working with a professional scriptwriter, and made into six audio podcasts featuring actors taking different perspectives. We evaluated their implementation in a social work education programme at a university in England. Students responded to an online survey which included items related to the accessibility of the podcasts and their experience of engaging with the podcasts on the module. Findings of the study demonstrate the popularity of the approach with students and positive responses in areas of criticality, application and ‘real world’ learning—all enhancing the pre-placement learning of social work students. The discussion examines possible reasons for this success and looks especially at aspects of adult learning and storytelling—with their potential for public pedagogy, emotional learning, and professional development
Creativity · Digital Storytelling · Popularity · Professional development · Social media · Storytelling · Innovations in Educational Methods · Reflective Practices in Education · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work
Thematic Analysis
Critical pedagogy, counterstorytelling, and the interdisciplinary power of podcasts
What is a podcast? Considering innovations in podcasting through the six-tensions framework
Service user storytelling in social work education
Integrating relational knowing and structured learning in social work placements – a framework for learning in practice
Bringing together podcasting, social work field education and learning about practice with Aboriginal peoples and communities
To fail or not to fail
Social work student telephones Expert by experience. Service users involvement in social work education during Covid-19 pandemic
Teaching social work skills-based learning online during and post Covid-19
A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis
Transhumanism, transmedia and the Serial podcast
Podcasting as Social Scholarship
The Use of Flipped Classroom Technology in Teaching Social Work Research
E-Social work
A Report on the Use of Open Access Podcasting in the Promotion of Social Work
The power of narrative storytelling
Podcasting in an Age of Austerity
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Enhancing teaching through constructive alignment
Storytelling for Oppositionists and Others
Methodolatry and Qualitative Health Research
| Highly cited | No |
|---|