The Call To Teach: Preparing Doctoral Students for the Classroom

Overview: This presentation will discuss the Answering the Call To Teach course in the DSW program at California Baptist University. The presentation will highlight the need for pedagogical training and provide current educators of doctoral students guidance on how to develop a course on providing pedological training to DSW students.Proposal text: Research on social work doctoral education suggests that there lack of formal pedagogical training in many doctoral programs (Chen, et.al, 2020). For the past 20 years, more emphasis has been placed on develop research skills and capacity among social work doctoral students than on competence in teaching (Chen, et.al., 2020). Consequently, the overall teaching preparation for those entering an academic position is inadequate (Kropf, Jackson-White, & Kurtz, 2002). A 2014 survey that assessed the hiring needs of 226 baccalaureate and master’s programs found that 40% reported teaching skills were lacking in recent assistant professor applicant pools, while only 11% indicated research and evaluation skills were lacking (Barsky, Green, & Ayayo, 2014). Further, Anastas’ (2012) study of social work doctoral students found that only 25% received formal pedagogical training. These findings suggest that pedagogical training is lacking across social work doctoral programs which limit doctorally-prepared social workers from serving adequately in higher education settings.

While few social work doctoral students receive pedagogical training, social work literature supports the need to establish such training. Quality guidelines recently set forth for social work doctoral programs provided by Harrington et al. (2014) identify specific core expertise and skills needed in social work pedagogy. The report suggested a course on theory and practice of teaching social work. Pairing the course with a teaching practicum can also be beneficial. Including the course and the practicum in the core curriculum would better ensure the development of competent social work educators.

This presentation will discuss the development of the Answering the Call To Teach course in Doctor of Social Work program at California Baptist University. The presentation will highlight the need for pedagogical training, describe the course offered at CBU, and provide current educators of doctoral students with a road map on how to develop a specific course focused on providing pedological training to DSW students.

• A set of three learning objectives for the presentation.

Understand the historical approach to DSW education in the United States
Understand the need for pedagogical training in DSW education
Identify specific skills and assignments helpful to DSW students in developing their pedagogical training