University at Buffalo (UB)
Rodriguez offers guidance for including AI in social work curricula
Rodriguez speaks during a UB panel discussion on AI. Explore more insights here from the panelists on integrating AI into the classroom. Photo: Douglas Levere
Published July 2, 2024
Social workers must understand how to responsibly and effectively use generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, according to a new article by Maria Y. Rodriguez, PhD, assistant professor in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.
In a paper for the Journal of Social Work Education, Rodriguez and her colleagues offer social work educators guidance for including AI in their curricula.
The article, titled "Introducing Generative Artificial Intelligence into the MSW Curriculum: A Proposal for the 2029 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards," appears online now.
Rodriguez's co-authors were Lauri Goldkind from Fordham University, Bryan G. Victor from Wayne State University, and Barbara S. Hiltz and Brian E. Perron from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor.
Abstract
The most recent Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) demand that social workers develop competence in the ethical and professional deployment of technology. Arguably, artificial intelligence has become a critical element in the technological landscape, most recently with the advent of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Beginning in late 2022, there has been an explosion of interest in GenAI, along with a massive and ongoing rollout of GenAI tools for personal and professional use, such as ChatGPT.
While GenAI will undoubtedly affect social work practice, scholars and ethicists have raised crucial concerns about GenAI, its potential abuses and misuses, making it critical that social workers are trained in the proper usage of these technologies. Accordingly, we call here for a 10th competency to be added to the 2029 EPAS: "Competency 10: Social workers demonstrate the knowledge, skills and understanding to responsibly and effectively use generative artificial intelligence tools." The current article discusses the recent developments in GenAI and offers social work educators guidance for including GenAI content in social work curricula to meet this proposed standard.