IUPUC faculty member Kathy Compton, Ph.D., recently presented at the 2009 Indiana Association of Social Work Educators annual meeting.

Compton’s presentation was entitled “Developing Savvy Social Workers Through Classroom Experiential Learning in a ‘Sim Community.’”

Compton introduced attendees to materials and processes used to facilitate a simulated community. In Sim Communities, students assume roles of community decision makers, conduct a community-needs assessment, write a grant, and develop community resources and services.

“Experiential learning allows students to be engaged in their learning and incorporate “real world” challenges as a way to develop critical thinking and interpersonal communication and problem solving,” Compton said. “It allows students to explore new ideas and to think about creative solutions for everyday problems.” 

When asked anonymously what they thought of the experience, Compton’s students said this:

“We were allowed to be creative, interact with our peers without lecture and we learned through collaboration and interaction with community members and our peers.” 

“This experience is challenging and fun.  We work together to build a community and together learn about negotiation, conflict resolution, advocacy, networking, and we are able to build skills that we will use in our future.”