'We hear not just the words': an evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: 'We hear not just the words': an evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education.
Authors: Westwood, Joanne1 (AUTHOR) jlwestwood2@lancashire.ac.uk, Davidson, Mary-Clare1 (AUTHOR), Worsley, Aidan2 (AUTHOR), Keelan, Alexandra3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Work Education. Sep2026, Vol. 45 Issue 6, p1583-1600. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Social work education, *Storytelling, *Social emotional learning, *Professional education, *Student engagement, *Adult learning, *Nonformal education, Podcasting
Abstract: This paper explores the effectiveness of using podcasts in social work education to foster student learning and engagement. There is a long tradition of innovation and creativity in the teaching of social work students locally and globally—and an emerging body of international pedagogical research exploring the use of podcasts and storytelling in social work education to which this study contributes. Building on adult learning principles, a series of case studies were co-created by practitioners and academics, working with a professional scriptwriter, and made into six audio podcasts featuring actors taking different perspectives. We evaluated their implementation in a social work education programme at a university in England. Students responded to an online survey which included items related to the accessibility of the podcasts and their experience of engaging with the podcasts on the module. Findings of the study demonstrate the popularity of the approach with students and positive responses in areas of criticality, application and 'real world' learning—all enhancing the pre-placement learning of social work students. The discussion examines possible reasons for this success and looks especially at aspects of adult learning and storytelling—with their potential for public pedagogy, emotional learning, and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Work Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 196477617
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: 'We hear not just the words': an evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Westwood%2C+Joanne%22">Westwood, Joanne</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jlwestwood2@lancashire.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Davidson%2C+Mary-Clare%22">Davidson, Mary-Clare</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Worsley%2C+Aidan%22">Worsley, Aidan</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Keelan%2C+Alexandra%22">Keelan, Alexandra</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Social+Work+Education%22">Social Work Education</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 45 Issue 6, p1583-1600. 18p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+work+education%22">Social work education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Storytelling%22">Storytelling</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+emotional+learning%22">Social emotional learning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+education%22">Professional education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+engagement%22">Student engagement</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+learning%22">Adult learning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonformal+education%22">Nonformal education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Podcasting%22">Podcasting</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This paper explores the effectiveness of using podcasts in social work education to foster student learning and engagement. There is a long tradition of innovation and creativity in the teaching of social work students locally and globally—and an emerging body of international pedagogical research exploring the use of podcasts and storytelling in social work education to which this study contributes. Building on adult learning principles, a series of case studies were co-created by practitioners and academics, working with a professional scriptwriter, and made into six audio podcasts featuring actors taking different perspectives. We evaluated their implementation in a social work education programme at a university in England. Students responded to an online survey which included items related to the accessibility of the podcasts and their experience of engaging with the podcasts on the module. Findings of the study demonstrate the popularity of the approach with students and positive responses in areas of criticality, application and 'real world' learning—all enhancing the pre-placement learning of social work students. The discussion examines possible reasons for this success and looks especially at aspects of adult learning and storytelling—with their potential for public pedagogy, emotional learning, and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Work Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=196477617
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02615479.2025.2581713
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 1583
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Social work education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Storytelling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social emotional learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adult learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonformal education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Podcasting
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'We hear not just the words': an evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Westwood, Joanne
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Davidson, Mary-Clare
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Worsley, Aidan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Keelan, Alexandra
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 02615479
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 45
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Social Work Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1