Dick Schoech

Teaching Over the Internet: Results of One Doctoral Course

Objective Although the Internet is new, many educators see it as a future instructional medium that will rival the face-to-face classroom. Currently, we have very little experience teaching a course using only the Internet. The objective of the course evaluated in this article was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of teaching a semester-long social work Ph.D. course on Technology Supported Practice entirely over the Internet. The course was open to masters of social work and Ph.D. students, and continuing education students. Method Internet tools used included a Web site, listserv, discussion forum, and chat room. Results Findings suggest that the Internet provides ample tools to deliver a course, especially when chat is used. Students report satisfaction and learning similar to a face-to-face classroom. Conclusion The Internet provides an environment rich enough to teach at a level of quality consistent with a face-to-face classroom.

Gamification for Behavior Change: Lessons from Developing a Social, Multiuser, Web-Tablet Based Prevention Game for Youths

Interest is growing in gamification, the use of game techniques and mechanics to engage and motivate. Future predictions suggest that this interest will continue to grow especially in the use of games to change individual behavior. However, applying gamification concepts and principles is challenging. Despite the growing interest, few gamification efforts have documented the challenges associated with the game development and application process. This article illustrates how gamification concepts and principles were applied to the development of an online, multiuser, substance abuse, and relationship violence prevention game for youths. We discuss challenges encountered during the efforts to develop and test a prototype version of the game and then present concrete and practical strategies for addressing these challenges. This article provides guidance for other researchers and practitioners who may want to gamify human service processes and use gamification techniques within a behavior change framework.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of a Course Taught via Classroom and Internet Chatroom

Human services distance education research has traditionally focused on pre-post testing of students to discover if distance education methods are comparable to traditional classroom methods in terms of student learning and satisfaction. This focus on comparability using quantitative research techniques ignores the substantial amount of information automatically captured when using some distance education (DE) methods. By combining quantitative, qualitative, and graphic techniques, educators can not only address comparability issues, but can also identify what classroom or DE methods result in higher or lower student learning and satisfaction. This research uses NUD*IST, SPSS, and Excel to illustrate the type of analysis needed for a masters social work course on administration taught via classroom and chat-room. Findings from the analysis support previous research on the comparability of DE methods to classroom methods and the qualitative and graphic analysis of chatroom text helps explain why this is so. We discuss the potential of this multi-technique DE approach for course improvement and for achieving student-defined quality.

From Data to Intelligence

Abstract Technology is transforming societal systems in ways not previously considered. Businesses have had the resources and incentives to implement technological advances much quicker than have human service agencies. This article examines business uses of technology and applies the concepts and principles to the human service delivery system. The result is the conceptualization of an intelligent organization linked to a virtual infrastructure that connects agencies locally and globally in order to accumulate, enhance, and disseminate agency, field, and professional expertise. Concepts are illustrated using examples from the area of child protective services. This analysis points to the need for human service professionals to become partners in creating the global knowledge and the technology infrastructure that deliver information when and where it is needed to guide then-decision making and create systems that learn.

Interoperability and the Future of Human Services

We are entering a period of interoperability in the human services, or the automatic global linking of information across different services and organizations. The purpose of this article is to get human service professionals to think about research, policy, management, and practice in a future service delivery system where data, information, and knowledge can be electronically exchanged and used globally. If human service professionals are to be intelligent discussants at the table when our future digital human services delivery infrastructure is planned, clear thinking about the practices, impacts, and issues of linking agency data globally is critical. Since the focus in this paper is on the impact of global data interchange, the difficult technical issues surrounding user authentication, security, and privacy are not discussed in the depth they require.

Online Synchronous Audio and Video Environments for Education, Training, and Human Service Delivery: A Review of Three Products

ABSTRACT This application review describes the Internet Video Virtual Classroom (IVVC). The IVVC is a synchronous online environment where instructors can deliver course curriculum to students in real time and at a distance. Features of the IVVC that are described include video, audio, and text communication between participants, information sharing, facilitating participation, promoting group work, and documenting interactions. In addition, problems and limitations that can exist in the IVVC are discussed. Finally, to further illustrate the IVVC, three specific products (Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, Elluminate, and Flashmeeting) are described.

A Technology enhanced EBP model

Abstract Evidence-based practices (EBP) is one of the more recent decision improvement processes that has captured the attention of many state governments and human service organizations at this time of critical service need. This article argues that EBP has indeed improved on the theoretical-based approaches of the past, but that there is a critical need to advance evidence collection and evaluation processes from the level of practitioner and supervisor to the level of the organization. The article presents an enhanced, technology-based EBP model and suggests its applicability to large human service environments. The model involves changing EBPs focus from an individual practitioner searching down relevant research for each case to an organization with tools that make data readily available so that workers can monitor their performance on well-researched, outcome-based, practice standards. The EBP model is illustrated by an interactive decision support system that was developed and tested in a statewide agency. This graphically-based decision support system allows staff to view how well they, their colleagues, and the agency meet federal standards on numerous indicators. By performing tasks that are metaphorically described as “drilling down” and “slicing and dicing” through agency data, staff can distill best practices that improve their performance. These best practices can be shared system-wide and can challenge and help refine the standards. The article concludes with implications of the enhanced EBP model for service delivery organizations. This enhanced EBP model is applicable to agencies struggling to use EBP concepts to get better performance with limited resources.

Building a model to predict caseworker and supervisor turnover using a neural network and logistic regression

Abstract Human service professionals are increasingly pressured to use sophisticated data analysis tools to support service decisions. However, the application of these tools often involves assumptions and nuances that are difficult for the practitioner to evaluate without specialized information. This article helps the practitioner evaluate two different quantitative methods, a logistic regression and a neural network. Both were used on the same data set to develop a model for predicting employee turnover in a regional child protective services agency. The different steps of building and enhancing the model were discussed. Ultimately, the neural network was able to predict turnover more accurately than a logistic regression by only 1%. The article provides advice to practitioners on comparing, evaluating, and interpreting logistic and neural network tools.

Using video clips as test questions: the development and use of a multimedia exam

SUMMARY Innovations in multimedia provide new formats for delivering and scoring tests and for constructing test items. This article presents a case study of the development of a multimedia exam that assesses child protective services supervisor competence. It describes the need, design, development, validity, standardization, use, status, issues, problems, and lessons learned. While multimedia offers potentials, it also makes modifications, enhancements, and delivery more complicated. By examining this experience, others can avoid mistakes and pitfalls when undertaking future multimedia assessment endeavors.

Evaluation of a Web-Phone Intervention System in Changing Smoking Behavior—A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a web-phone intervention in changing smoking behavior. One hundred and sixteen university student smokers were recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Each participant used their own mobile phone to receive messages from an automated web-phone system. After 4 weeks the participants in both the experimental group and comparison group improved on self-efficacy (SE) and stage of change (SOC) toward smoking cessation. After another 5 weeks, their SE remained significantly improved, but SOC did not. Participants in the control group did not improve. The findings provide support for further research on and possible adoption of automated phone interventions as a tool in helping smokers move toward quitting, especially those who are at an earlier stage of change. Dosage in automated interventions was found to be an area requiring future research.