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What started out as trepidation for some social work students over the absence of classroom aides and structure, has resulted in those very students filling in the gaps and broadening their learning experience after their courses were transferred online via Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “Stay-at-Home” order. 

Ariel Jones, PhD, assistant professor in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Social Work, shared how her students are coping, and even expanding their educational experience, during this time of academic challenge for SIUE and the nation.  

“I’m happy to say that the first week went well. The students are rising to the challenge of online coursework and also feeling supported through these uncertain times,” said Jones, who is teaching two undergraduate classes and one graduate course. “A large portion of my Social Work Practice with Groups classes consisted of hiring SIUE students as actors to play simulated clients with real-life problems, so students could gain experience interviewing, developing and facilitating various types of social work groups.” 

However, with the transition to online courses, Jones reported that her students have taken on the role of clients themselves, to help meet the learning objectives for the course. When one student serves as the facilitator, other students in the class make up the support group. Then the next week, another student is selected to serve as the facilitator. Each peer facilitator identifies their own topic and works with Jones to develop a curriculum for the group session. 

“The peer facilitators have been doing a great job. They are doing most of the curriculum development by themselves. Everyone is highly engaged in the process,” added Jones. “The support groups are all designed to address students’ concerns in dealing with COVID-19. Last week, students talked about the stress of going online. They discussed their difficulties with the online transition, as they preferred learning in a face-to-face class setting. They also discussed being worried about assignments and grades.” 

Another group last week dealt with self-care, according to Jones, and discussed ways of staying physically, mentally and socially healthy while being confined to the house. 

“This week, we have one peer facilitator discussing grief as it relates to COVID-19 and another addressing managing anxiety during this pandemic,” said Jones. “Although this current situation could not have been foreseen at the beginning of the semester, we are continuing our coursework. I want my students to walk away from this experience, having learned what they set out to and have some practice skills that will be useful in the field. 

“This has been a great way to expose students to some of the dynamics of providing telehealth services, which is an evolving trend in our field, while also meeting their needs by providing personal support to them during these difficult times.”

Photo: Ariel Jones, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE Department of Social Work.