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Action Learning in Social Work
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Action Learning in Social Work

First Edition


September 2013 | 176 pages | Learning Matters
Throughout their careers, social work students and practitioners need to demonstrate an understanding of critical and reflective practice. The Professional Capabilities Framework sets out how newly-qualified social workers can achieve this, and become 'critical practitioners' who are able to make decisions in fast-moving situations. This book is a complete guide for those practitioners who wish to engage with action learning as a way of developing critically reflective practice. 

The authors use Action Learning to explore fundamental aspects of good social work including for example person centred and anti-oppressive practice. The notions of social and emotional intelligence and being critically reflective are also explored in the context of action learning. This book is practical, skills-based and essential reading for all social workers who wish to extend their understanding and knowledge. 

 
PART ONE: PRINCIPLES
 
Action learning: an introduction
 
Action learning and social work
 
Action learning and critically reflective practice
 
PART TWO: CONTEXT
 
Social and emotional intelligence
 
Anti-discriminatory practice and anti-oppressive practice
 
Involving other professions: multi-agency practice
 
Case studies: action learning sets in action
 
PART THREE: PRACTICE
 
Being an action learner
 
Facilitating action learning

The book is co-authored by Christine Abbott and Paul Taylor, both of whom have extensive knowledge and experience of working with action learning sets and their passion for this approach to learning is evident throughout the book...Overall, there is much to be gained from the ideas within this book and there are some interesting ideas about how social workers can be active within their own learning and problem solving activities within the context of an action learning set. There are some useful pedagogical features throughout the book that encourage engagement with a critically reflective process and underpin the key principles of action learning as an approach to questioning and problem solving.

Anne Llewellyn, Principal Lecturer in Learning and Teaching Teeside University, and Postgraduate student, Professional Doctorate in Education
Action Learning: Research & Practice Journal

This is a really helpful and accessible text which walks the reader through the origins and current application of AL.

Mrs Amanda Murphy
School of Social Work, Care & Community, University of Central Lancashire
October 30, 2019

Overly complicated writing style and syructure which I felt detracted from the content.

Mrs Kerry Fidler
School of Social Work, University of Leicester
February 16, 2015

A great introduction and overview for students that want to know more about social work practice and learning as praxis. The book gives insightful examples and case scenarios that can be easily adopted in classroom setting

Ms Irena Loveikaite
Department of Applied Arts, Waterford Institute of Technology
February 5, 2015

I became aware of this book following a local visit by its author. Action learning will be a focus within the largest employing organisation in this area. This book makes action learning accessible to my final year students and will prepare them for the tranisition into employment which they will be able to enter as ready to continue personal learning and to contribute to organisational learning

Mr John Sturgeon
School of Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland
August 19, 2014

This is a very good book for post qualifying practitioners who are either interested in becoming a practice educator or generally interested in practice learning per se.

Like all of the learning matters books, they are easily accessible and break down thinking / theories that can be understood and put into practice.

Mr Robert Bielby
faculty of health and social care sciences, Kingston University
June 15, 2014

Easy to read and understand, clear interesting chapters, good case studies and relevant reflection points throughout

Mrs elaine Ann Simpson
Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University
October 14, 2015

This is a well written book for social work students and practitioners. the examples are well drawn and helpful links made to the Professional Capabilities Framework.

Dr Bridget Ng'andu
Social Work Department, Ruskin College Oxford
April 14, 2014

The book combines the approaches within reflective practice and emotional intelligence that have become accepted ways of working within social work, with action learning, an emerging approach. The result is a useful pragmatic approach to learning and development of good practice in modern social work.

Mr Dave Mason
Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University
April 7, 2014

The book doesn't give the detail I'd hoped for in relation to types of action learning.

Mrs Sue Williams
Institute of Applied Social Studies, Birmingham University
February 13, 2014

For instructors

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