Teach One, Do One, Then Do It Again: Preparing a Practice-Ready Social Work Workforce Through Online Education

Online social work education has rapidly expanded in response to workforce shortages and the need to increase access to professional preparation. However, a central challenge remains ensuring that students in online programs are adequately prepared for the relational and in-person realities of social work practice. This session examines human services curriculum development through a “Teach One, Do One, Then Do It Again” instructional framework, demonstrating how online programs can intentionally bridge the gap between virtual learning and real-world practice at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels in efforts to increase the number of these professionals.

The session highlights how iterative learning cycles that combine instruction, applied practice, and repeated skill rehearsal support the development of competency, professional judgment, and readiness for face-to-face client interactions. Participants will explore strategies designed to simulate the complexities of in-person practice, including scaffolded skill demonstrations, role-play, case-based learning, simulated client interactions, multimodal content delivery, and a consistent course structure. Particular attention is given to how these approaches address common online learning limitations, such as reduced opportunities for spontaneous and synchronous interaction, embodied communication, and real-time feedback.

While recognizing the growing demand for social workers in rural and underserved Midwestern communities, this model reflects models at the University of Missouri that expand online Bachelor’s and Master’s level education while maintaining rigorous preparation for practice. This session illustrates how thoughtfully designed online curricula can strengthen human service workforce pipelines, support licensure readiness, and ensure graduates are equipped to navigate the interpersonal and contextual demands of in-person social work.