An Exploratory Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Innovative Model for Teaching Multicultural Social Work Education

Abstract

Effective social work practice with diverse populations requires the successful incorporation of multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills.As a result, there is a pressing need for innovative and evidencebased teaching strategies and methods that provide social work students with these key multicultural tools. This paper describes one such teachingmodel and presents the findings of an exploratory study to empirically evaluate its effectiveness with undergraduate social work students (N =23) enrolled in a multicultural social work course. Based on pre-and post-test composite scores, the findings suggest that this new model of multicultural instruction and assignments increases students' multicultural awareness andknowledge.     

Developing Multicultural Competence Using the Structured Peer Group Supervision Model

Interest in the role of supervision in counselor training has increased concurrent with the interest in effective strategies for developing multicultural counseling competency. L. D. Borders (1991) proposed a model of group supervision appropriate for use with supervisees of differing skill levels; however, the model does not overtly provide for supervisees' development of multicultural awareness and skills. This article presents a format of peer group multicultural supervision in which supervisees work to increase their multicultural competencies while engaging in helper roles important for working with culturally diverse clients.     

Strategies for infusing curricula with a multicultural perspective

We describe pedagogical strategies for infusing a multicultural perspective into courses across a variety of disciplines; these methods have proven effective with students who are predominantly Anglo and oriented toward careers in the human services. The strategies include personalizing information through vicarious learning and case studies; inculcating critical thinking skills; simulations; literary analysis; and cooperative learning in large classes. Changes were documented in student attitudes, emotions, knowledge, professional skills, and the classroom environment. We review lessons learned about the process of curriculum revision, especially the importance of faculty support systems and impediments to implementation.All of the authors are faculty members in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University; Drs. MacPhee, Oltjenbruns, and Kreutzer are Associate Professors and Dr. Fritz is a Professor. Each of the authors is a trainer for the multicultural infusion project. David MacPhee holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His primary research interests include primary prevention for at-risk youth and families, and multicultural and gender issues. Kevin Oltjenbruns completed her doctoral degree in educational and psychological studies at the University of Colorado. The principle focus of her work has been on grief and loss, career development, and student retention. As Associate Dean of the College of Applied Human Sciences, she spearheaded the multicultural infusion project described in this article. Janet Fritz's graduate work was completed at Cornell University. Her research interests include cognitive development, children's self-worth, stress and coping, and cross-cultural variations in socialization. Jill Kreutzer earned her Ph.D. in education from Colorado State University. She is interested in adolescent development, especially resilience among at-risk youth, and career development.Portions of this work were presented at the 5th Annual National Conference on Racial & Ethnic Relations in American Higher Education (June, 1992).Requests for curriculum and training materials should be directed to the Dean's Office, College of Applied Human Sciences.     

International mobility and cultural perceptions among senior teacher educators in Israel: ‘I have learned to suspend judgment’

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to explore the motives underpinning career mobility, and the impact of such mobility on changing the perceptions of senior teacher educators from Israel who have experienced cross-cultural professional transitions during the mid-career stage (hereafter referred to as ‘internationally oriented teacher educators’). A thematic analysis of five interviewees’ retrospective narratives highlighted three motives driving career mobility: the opportunity for professional development; the joy of adventure and challenge; and the need to bring about a fundamental change in their careers. In addition, two categories of changes in perceptions that occurred following international mobility were mapped: (a) pluralistic perceptions in a multicultural higher education environment, and (b) culture of learning among the younger generation. The discussion raises similarities and differences between the findings and the literature on career mobility in higher education.     

Career Identity Among Community College Students

Career identity development is salient in adolescence and young adulthood, but little research has assessed career identity in populations other than four-year college students. Context should be considered when examining career identity, and to address this gap in the literature, the current study examined the extent to which parental support for career, work experience, and career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) influenced career identity evaluation (i.e., engaging in in-depth career exploration and identification with one's career) in a sample of community college students. Results showed that parental support for career was predictive of CDSE, and CDSE was predictive of career identity evaluation, which suggests parental support for career indirectly affects career identity evaluation through CDSE. In contrast to expectations, work experience was not associated with CDSE or career identity evaluation. Findings suggest differences in career identity development for two-year community college and four-year university students.     

美国跨文化模式的多元文化教师教育课程分析

在教学过程中,教师对引导学生的发展发挥着重要的作用。如果教师负责为多元文化学生创造高效的文化回应式教育体验,那么在教师教育课程中就应该培养教师与多元文化学生和谐共处的能力。随着全球化视域下多元文化教育的凸显,以及美国中小学生种族、族群、文化和语言结构的多元化日益增强,美国中小学教育更需要擅长多元文化教育的教师。针对现实中孤立的多元文化教师教育课程的设置及其低效问题,美国提倡设置基于全球观培养教师跨文化能力的多元文化教师教育课程,使教师具有广泛的多元文化知识基础、态度,形成持续的跨文化教学能力。     

多元文化咨询理论:国际人口迁移对生涯咨询的影响

随着后工业化的推进,国际移民日益增多。人口迁移成了一个备受关注的全球化问题。由于生涯辅导的大部分理论都是基于美国社会的文化发展而来的,因此国际化人口移动带来的文化多样性,对生涯咨询师提出了新的挑战。面对这些挑战,多元文化的咨询理论为生涯咨询师的咨询带来了新的曙光。社会认知生涯理论,种族/性别生态模式、系统理论框架以及明尼苏达工作适应理论都为移民的生涯发展提供了依据。     

A snapshot of multicultural training in school psychology

With the rapidly increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the school-aged population, school psychologists must be properly trained to engage in culturally competent practice; however, little is known about how school psychology programs prepare their trainees to serve diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to update Rogers et al.'s study on multicultural training by examining the extent to which school psychology programs use multicultural training recommendations noted in the literature. Thirty-eight school psychology program coordinators completed the Multicultural Environmental Inventory-Revised (MEI) to assess their perceptions of their program's multicultural environment. Participants were also asked about their training in multicultural and diversity issues and how their program conducts multicultural training. Findings suggest that programs most frequently used the integration and separate course models for multicultural training along with clinical experiences serving diverse students. In addition, multicultural coursework was associated with higher scores on the MEI Curriculum and MEI Research subscales. With regard to program environment, the percentage of racial and ethnic minoritized (REM) students was positively correlated to the percentage of REM faculty and the number of required multicultural courses. However, programs lacked specific strategies to recruit and retain diverse students. Findings and implications for training programs are discussed.     

Second Life to support Multicultural Literacy: Pre- and In-service Teachers' Perceptions and Expectations

The purpose of the study was to examine preservice teachers’ attitudes using Second Life for multicultural literacy and to explore effective strategies to implement this technology in teacher preparation programs. Participants included thirty-six preserve teachers from early childhood, elementary, and secondary education programs. Participants indicated that interacting with cultural artifacts and diverse populations promoted multiculturalism, 47.5% reported that Second Life supported the development of multicultural attitudes and 50% indicated that Second Life can support multicultural respect. Additionally, 33.4% considered Second Life an effective learning tool for K-12 education while 40% remained undecided. Participants questioned the veracity of certain objects, often failed to communicate with individuals from other cultures, and worried about inappropriate content. Despite these limitations, Second Life could serve as a rich environment to build multicultural knowledge through culturally representative locations, artifacts, and communication. Suggestions for incorporating multicultural experiences via Second Life are presented.     

从运动到制度化:多元文化教育发展的历程——兼论民族团结教育课程的时代背景

文章在分析美、加、澳、英等国多元文化教育发展历程的基础上,讨论了多元文化教育从运动到制度化的历程,并指出世界多元文化教育的整体发展趋势是我国民族团结教育提出的时代背景,亦为新时期我国民族团结教育课程的开设提供了诸多启示:适应世界多元文化教育发展趋势,加大对民族团结教育课程的重视程度,将民族团结教育上升到公民教育的高度;改变民族教育课程观念,是民族团结教育课程顺利实施的基本前提;探索"立足本国、面向世界"的民族团结教育课程模式。     

国外多元文化教育的特点及启示

作为一种教育理念,多元文化教育自诞生以来,逐渐成为一场国际运动。国外的多元文化教育无论是在政策法规的制定、学校设置、师资队伍建设,还是在课程设置、教学语言等方面都有其自己的特点。国外的多元文化教育对我国的启示在于:树立多元文化理念;制定相应的政策法规,为多元文化教育提供政策上、法律上的保障;设立多样化的民族学校;加强师资队伍建设,提高教师素质;注重从小教育;设置多元文化课程;实行双语教学等等,以此推动我国多元文化教育更好地发展。     

Should teachers be colorblind? How multicultural and egalitarian beliefs differentially relate to aspects of teachers' professional competence for teaching in diverse classrooms

This study uses the framework of professional competence to investigate the relationship between two cultural beliefs, multiculturalism and colorblindness, and different aspects of professional competence for teaching immigrant students. Results from path model analyses with 433 beginning teachers showed that participants with multicultural beliefs reported higher motivational orientations (self-efficacy and enthusiasm for teaching, and more integrative career motives), more positive values (lower agreement with negative stereotypes), and more reported willingness to adapt their teaching. Colorblind beliefs showed no relationships to the former constructs and were negatively related to reported willingness to adapt teaching to culturally diverse students.     

Multicultural Counselor Training Experiences: Training Effects and Perceptions of Training Among a Sample of Predominately Hispanic Students

The effectiveness of multicultural training among a sample of predominately Hispanic counseling students was examined. The results of a series of 2‐factor repeated measures analysis of variance and follow‐up paired‐samples t tests suggest that multicultural training was effective in increasing students' multicultural competencies and in improving their cognitive racial attitudes. Students' affective racial attitudes were not changed. Students' perceptions of their multicultural training suggest that students from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds may experience multicultural training differently and unique life experiences may help explain this difference. Counselor educators may wish to use a variety of training experiences to provide multicultural training that is effective across diverse student populations.     

Imprisonment and Career Development: An Evaluation of a Guidance Programme for Job Finding

This study describes the evaluation results of PORO; a three level occupational guidance programme designed to improve offender's job finding possibilities and to reduce reoffending after imprisonment. The programme is carried out at a Catalan prison, and the evaluation approach used is Stufflebeam's CIPP model, considering the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the programme. Evaluation outcomes and practical suggestions for career development applications addressed to prison populations are reported.     

我国民族地区地方课程开发研究

民族地区的地方课程开发模式可以概括为“国家专门机构统一协作、多省区联合开发、不同层次民族自治区共同使用”,其理论基础在于地方性知识的教育价值及多元文化教育的全球理念。民族地区地方课程的目标是在“中华民族多元一体格局”理论的指导下,立足于各民族优秀的文化知识,放眼全球多元文化教育的发展特点,培养具有多元文化知识、态度与能力的一代新人。地方课程的内容包括生态环境、生产生活、民风民俗、社会历史、传统科学、民族艺术和语言文学等七个方面。     

A WAY WITH WORDS: A Unique Approach to Literacy and Career Development

This article describes a unique collaboration between the Career Center at the University of Missouri–Columbia, Columbia Public Schools and the community. A WAY WITH WORDS is an America Reads community literacy program that has enriched the educational experience of graduate, undergraduate and K–5 students since 1996. Teams of undergraduate volunteers led by graduate students in Counseling Psychology and Educational Leadership (ELPA) tutor local children in an effort to increase literacy. The teams interact and communicate with children, parents, teachers and principals as they serve during school and in after-school programs that they co create with school administrators and community members. Tremendous opportunities exist for learning about socio-economically and increasing ethnically diverse communities. During a biweekly seminar, team leaders lead career exploration activities that focus on mentoring, multicultural issues and team building. The program seeks to cultivate civic responsibility as an aspect of career development through communication, relatedness and reflection.     

Promoting Ego Development and Multicultural Competence During Internship

This research involved an exploratory intervention to determine the effectiveness of using a deliberate psychological education (DPE) approach that incorporated issues of ethics, multicultural competence, oppression and diversity. The study attempted to discern if the DPE model used could make a difference in the promotion of ego development (which subsumes moral development) and multicultural knowledge and awareness of counselor interns. The intervention group showed significant gains compared to comparison groups in ego development as measured by the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (WSCT) (Loevinger 1985) as well as significant gains on the Knowledge subscale of the Multicultural Counseling Knowledge and Awareness Scale (MCKAS, Ponterotto et al. 2002).     

Developing Multicultural Counseling Competencies Through Experiential Learning

Counselor educators are challenged to prepare students for working with culturally diverse clients. The recent attention paid to multicultural counseling competencies has defined domains of learning; however, training methods to support the development of multicultural counseling competencies have received less emphasis. This article focuses on experiential learning as a teaching and learning methodology to increase students' multicultural counseling competencies. The authors outline ethical and practical suggestions for using experiential learning in multicultural counseling curriculum.     

Using Super's Career Development Assessment and Counselling (C-DAC) Model to Link Theory to Practice

Super's Career Development Assessment and Counselling Model (C-DAC)represents an excellent translation of career development theory intopractice. After decades of developing the various segments of his theory(i.e., developmental stages and tasks, life span, self-concept) toexplain career development, Super focused on using these theory segmentsto help individuals resolve their career concerns. This uniqueassessment-based intervention model is the result of a multinationalresearch effort directed toward understanding the individual'ssubjective and objective career development experience. This paperprovides a brief overview of the C-DAC model and then discusses how theC-DAC model is useful for addressing career concerns in the post-modernera.