SW316

INTERVIEWING IN SOCIAL WORK

KIRK VANDER MOLEN

Storyboard of the Course:

Module titles with objectives, topics, class number, material and assessment information
Module 1: Orientation to Class and Introduction to Interviewing.
Goals:
Students will understand the course content, structure and expectations.
Students will explore their experience of being interviewed and interviewing others.
Students will explore the role of interviewing in the development of their identity and skills of being social worker.
Students will practice interviewing by interviewing a classmate
Students will explore basic interviewing structure and approach
Class
Objectives
Preparation, Learning, Assessment
Content
Class 1

Orientate students to the

course content, structure
and expectations.

Class 2
First half

Introduction to basic
concepts and

Prepare Syllabus, props for association exercise

with interviewing, power point for instruction, list of
terms for interview terminology quiz.
Instruct Go over syllabus with Students
Discuss Assignments for Class
Integrate Students use props to talk about
interviewing, Students introduce each other through
interviews
Assign Pre-Class Reflection Paper: Thoughts about
interviewing and learning goals for class. Chap. 2 &
12 readings for next week.
Prepare Power point for SOLER and OARS
(question/response prompt for interview).
Instruct and discuss SOLAR and OARS
Integrate Impromptu, in-class, 1-on-1, interview
Assign - reminder of terminology quiz next week

Brief Welcome (right class, role)

Students interview partner and then present partner
to class (questions TBA). This serves two purposes:
introduces classmates to each other and provides
first practice interview for students
Professor introduction
Review Syllabus and Assignment
Students use professor provided props and make
associations with interviewing
Whats involved with an interview? Discussion of
different components and influences in interviewing.
Collect Pre-class Reflection Papers
Present content on SOLER (position/presence
prompt for interview) and OARS (question/response
prompt for interview)
In-class, 1-on-1 interview practicing SOLER and OARS.

Module 2: Ethics: Boundaries, self-disclosure, and professional self-care.

Goals:
Explain the role of the Social Work Code of Ethics and its applicability to ethical conflicts
Identify the importance of boundaries, self-disclosure, ethics and professional self-care.
Class

Objectives

Class 2
Second
Half

Students will become

familiar to various
ethical concerns
involved in a social
worker/client
relationship

Preparation, Learning, Assessment

Prepare Power point material for Chapter 2 and 12.

Instruct Present material on boundaries, self-disclosure
Discuss Exercise 12.1 and 12.2
Assign Ethics Assignment, due February 11.
Assign For Module 4, Class 6: Class divided into 6 groups, each given a
stage of change to present to the class.

Content

Present materials from Chapters 2 and 12

Use groups to discuss material and complete
exercises

Module 3: Basic Skills in Interviewing: Engagement, Attending, Listening, Support, Empathy, Exploration and Elaboration
Goals:
Understand terms and concepts related to the theory, approach and practice of interviewing.
Explain the strengths perspective as it pertains to conducting an interview.
Demonstrate the ability to engage, listen and attend to an individual during an interview.
Demonstrate an ability to incorporate encouragement, paraphrasing and summarization into an interview.
Class
Class 3

Objectives
Attending and
listening
Non-verbal
communication

Preparation, Learning, Assessment

Prepare Power Point Chapter 4
Instruct Present material on Chapter 4
Integrate Physical attending exercise 4.1, Video on non-verbal
communication, Exerc4.7 (word meanings) and 4.8 (Paralinguistic
cues).
Asses Whole class review of material at end of class.

Content
Review of SOLAR
Non-verbals: Body postures, gestures, facial
expressions, and silence.

Class 4

Support & Empathy

Class 5

Exploration &
Elaboration
Guest interviewee for
the Resource Referral
Assignment

Prepare - Power Point Chapter 5

Instruct Present material on Chapter 5
Integrate Video clip 5.2, Empathy role play 5.9, Empathetic Reflection
of Content 5.11,
Assess - Whole review of material at end of class.

Prepare - Power Point Chapter 6

Instruct - Present material on Chapter 6
Integrate Opening up closed-ended questions exercise 6.1,
Interviewing using questions 6.2,
Assess Whole class review of material at end of class
Guest Group interview of a guest client for the Resource Referral
Assignment.

Acceptance: Keeping personal values in

check
Genuineness
Availability: physically and psychologically
Validation
Empathy: Shift of perspective, joining
Support sounds, mirroring
Outer, Middle, Inner Circle Talk
Using intentional questions: General
Guidelines
Opening Up Closed-Ended Questions
Problematic questions
Prompts, Silence, Reflection, Refocusing,
Timing

Module 4: Change: Stages, Planning for and Evaluating.

Goals:
Gain skill in assessment and interviewing techniques to help people move towards change.
Class
Objectives
Preparation, Learning, Assessment

Students will be able

to identify and explain
the stages of change.
Students will be
familiar with
appropriate
expectations and
challenges for each
stage of change.

Asses students
knowledge of interview
terminology and basic
concepts.

Class 6

Class 7a

Prepare Power point for chapter 8

Present Students will present
Discuss Stages of Change, Motivation to Change, Resolving
Ambivalence and Contracting
Integrate Formulate Decision Balance Sheet in groups of 2;
Watch/discuss video segments on stages of change.
Assess Whole class review of material at end of class

Assess - Interview terminology, basic interviewing concepts and

approaches: Attending Skills, SOLER, OARS, Support & Empathy,
Exploration & Elaboration, Stages of Change

Content

Group presentations of stages of change:

Pre-contemplation, Contemplation,
Preparation, Action, Behavior maintenance,
recycling.
Building Motivation to Change
Techniques for resolving ambivalence about
change.
Contracting

Handout quiz at beginning of class (30

minutes provided)

Class 7b

Students will be
exposed to
Motivational
Interviewing and
become familiar with
its use with the stages
of change.

Guest Speaker on Motivational Interviewing

Guest speaker to provide material

Module 5: Skill Demonstration and Course Conclusion

Goals:
Students will gain experience and confidence for interviewing by doing an interview project.
Students will gain experience in receiving constructive feedback.
Class
Objectives
Preparation, Learning, Assessment

Classes
8 14
(No class week
9 break)

Students will use skills

learned to conduct
and video tape an
interview to present in
class.

Assess Students will present their videos in class and receive

feedback from peers and professor.
Assignment due Reflection Paper on interview experience and
feedback due one week after presenting.

Notes

This is the culmination project. It will involve

the students producing a 10 minute, real-play,
that will be shown and evaluated in class.