Social Work and Simulations: Teaching Practice, Research, Policy, and Social Injustices

Social Work and Simulations describes how simulated learning experiences can be a powerful modality for social work education. Based on a variety of realistic situations and guided by the creation of a safe learning environment, students actively engage in and observe simulations followed by group reflections and discussions. The simulations are a powerful and immersive learning experience for students and teachers alike. They fill an important gap in social work education as they provide students with realistic learning experiences about the more human elements of practice without real-life consequences before beginning work in the field.

Kevin Tan is Associate Dean for Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is notably recognized for his contributions to school social work practice and community engagement initiatives with the 2021 Gary Lee Shaffer Award and the 2023 University of Illinois distinguished faculty award. He earned his PhD from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, a Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis Brown School of Social Work, and a Bachelors in Social Work (Honors) from the National University of Singapore.

Chi-Fang Wu is Professor and PhD Program Director at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a poverty researcher, she has devoted her career to scholarship assessing the effectiveness of public benefits programs that promote economic advancement among women and improve the well-being of low-income families. She received the Tony Halter Excellence in Teaching Award, the Excellence in Mentoring and Advising, and the University Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award. Dr Wu received her master's degree in social work from National Taiwan University and her PhD in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Social Work.

Terry Ostler received her BA (Summa Cum Laude), MA, and PhD degrees at the University of California Berkeley. She worked for two years as a postdoctoral scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education in Berlin. A developmental and clinical psychologist by training, she served on the faculty of psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago before teaching in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has published on parent-child attachment bonds and on parenting in individuals with severe mental illness. She is happily retired.