Research on the utilization of IT (Information Technology) for improving professional social welfare education

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The study of social welfare is in a "practical discipline". Developing social welfare professionals is a higher practical science. Therefore, "the field learning" based on the field work with fulfilling content is essential. Extensive field work and college work will help the students learning from the real situation. Then, they can understand social welfare in a real sense and will foster their actual ability to practice in social welfare settings.The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the possibility and the effectiveness of the IT utilization, such as distance learning, various techniques making use of the e-learning, and multi-media. This will be achieved in lecture classes, field work, professional seminars and classes for the graduate researches.The teachers and the students in Department of Social Welfare and Department of Human Relations, Faculty of Human Relations in Kyoto Koka Women's University cooperated in this study. The members engaged in the followings : making electrical teaching materials in the lecture classes, experimenting the method of e-learning by using "Blackboard" (Learning Management System) and "MediaDEPO" (Video Delivery System), and constructing a web site named "Fukushi.com" for supporting, and operating the field work by the distance conference system.Moreover, the members visited some universities to learn about the usage of IT in social welfare studies. Then the directions and issues about this matter are examined.Consequently, the effectiveness of e-learning technique in the lecture classes was confirmed. It will contribute to improving the professional social welfare education to the academic level and emphasizing the importance of field work education. Also, the ideas about the methods for supporting field work is grasped. This study also indicated as very real problems that individual's effort has a limit in getting a significant results and systematic approach as a university organization altogether is essential.