The School of Social Work at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina has recently launched a new Simulation Skills Lab to advance practical training opportunities for students.
Developed by professors Erica Campbell and Michelle Bates, in collaboration with Genius Academy, the HBCU’s new platform allows students to interact with virtual clients through audio and video communications. The software then analyzes the students’ responses and provides feedback on their spoken content and tone of voice. Additionally, the lab includes a virtual reality setup in which students can simulate home visits, focusing on their observational and analytical skills.
Currently, the available simulations center on scenarios related to food insecurity and HIV/AIDs. As it expands, the lab will feature learning opportunities in other critical areas, such as intimate partner violence and mental health.
Highlighting the new technology’s impact on social work education, Dr. Bates said, “We hope to boost self-efficacy and increase confidence so that when students take on their roles, they already have some experience in these situations.”
Dr. Campbell is an associate professor and program director of Fayetteville State’s bachelor’s degree in social work. Her research focuses on advancing the racial compentency of social work practitioners. She holds a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Bates is an assistant professor of social work who previously directed the HBCU’s master of social work degree program. In addition to her work at Fayetteville State, she is a research scholar with the Baylor College of Medicine, examining uterine fibroid disparities in Black and Hispanic women. She earned her Ph.D. from Walden University.
