Developing a teaching module in social work on assessment especially designed for students in a multicultural environment : infusing culture perspectives into teaching methods and styles

Abstract

The aim of this development project was twofold: to design a course on assessment in social work and secondly to examine the concepts of cultural diversity and cultural competency and how these issues are incorporated into teaching. These issues were examined through a reflection on my teacher practice experience in Cyprus in the spring 2006. The theoretical background was based on experiential and constructive theories of learning and a review of literature on culture and language issues in teaching. I have attempted to interweave theory with observations from practice. Practice refers to my case study, my teaching experience in Cyprus. The module on assessment has been planned for second year social work students whose mother tongue is other than that of the language of instruction. Different teaching methods are employed with emphasis on the teaching style of the teacher and on interaction between student and teacher when students may come from many different cultural backgrounds and their level of English can be very varied. This development project endevours to be a continuous dialogue between my practical experience and theoretical reflection which helped me design the teaching module in assessment focusing particularly on cultural perspectives and teaching styles.