Fostering Practice Self-Efficacy: An Exercise to Promote Student Self-Efficacy and Evidence-Based Practice

Abstract

This teaching note describes my experience discovering and addressing challenges to graduating baccalaureate social work students' self-efficacy, particularly on the use of a substance-use-oriented evidence-based practice (EBP) in fieldwork placements. This discovery led to the development of an exercise, presented here, to proactively identify and address such challenges. The exercise consists of a structured discussion that invokes theory and professional responsibility, followed by the instructor modeling role playing for the class. The exercise culminates in dyadic role playing between students with individualized feedback provided by the professor. In addition to promoting student self-efficacy, the exercise is designed to address practice competencies specified by the Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards and specifically to promote the use of EBP in the field.