Student Websites
Trubox class websites can be as unique as you want to make your project. Each set of examples is prefaced with a copy of the project assignment Dr. Kathie McKinnon provided each of her students. That said, these are not to be seen as restrictions but rather to showcase the creativity websites can provide students, even when they are given the same set of instructions.
Below, we have provided you with student examples, and at the bottom of this page, you will find examples of more alternative assessment ideas.
Student Project Examples
Mirror Mirror by Mia and Marie
This body image project was created with self-awareness in mind. We wanted to create a platform that could start the conversation about body neutrality, body positivity, and the effects of COVID-19 on body image. Body image issues affect everyone during their lifetime. It’s important to normalize having conversations about where our insecurities come from and what we can do to diminish them.
Throughout this website, there may be some triggering topics. Since body image can be a very sensitive topic, it’s important to ground yourself as you read, listen and experience this complicated world of body image.
Check out their project goal to view the mind map created by Mia and where it all started.
From Mirror Mirror by Mia and Marie, used with the author’s permission.
JUST ASK by Mackenzie and Holly
Consent 101: Demystifying Consent. This website is dedicated to explaining what consent is, how it works, and what to do if something happens to you or someone you know. So breathe deep and exhale slowly. While consent is a tricky subject, this website will help you understand and navigate what consent really is.
From JUST ASK by Mackenzie and Holly, used with the author’s permission.
Caregiver Fatigue by Jasmine and Christine
As our third-year Bachelor of Social Work practicum with Thompson River University, we created this website to help spread awareness and support for caregivers within the community and beyond. We want to disclose we are not trained professionals in this area. Our goal is to bring awareness and help you connect with trained professionals. It takes a community for healthy living and aging. In times of caregiving, it is easy to fall victim to thinking you are alone in your situation. Caregiver fatigue is more common than anyone wants to admit, and there is a community to support you throughout your challenges.
From Caregiver Fatigue by Jasmine and Christine, used with the author’s permission.
Copy of Project Assignment by Dr. Kathie McKinnon
Family Resource Assignment: A Collaborative Learning Activity
For this assignment, you are to work in your assigned groups to locate background research and support information (resources) that would be useful in supporting a family characterized by an issue of family diversity or challenge. You will be co-creating a family resource website on WordPress, so remember, this is important research that your group is co-creating for people to use as a current resource. Jamie Drozda will provide technical guidance and speak to the class about creating a WordPress site. She will provide extra help if your group needs it on Tuesday afternoons, time to be announced soon (see more information on Moodle).
This is an academic assignment, so please ensure you reference all material appropriately. Use APA throughout and include an APA-style reference page at the end of your group work.
Using the web and electronic library resources, you will collectively compile an annotated Bibliography of sources that will include:
- A summary of Demographic and Statistical Information about the families in question
- Video resources (talks, lectures and short films related to your topic) 5 sources
- Organizations and services (local, provincial, national, and international) that provide support and information to your families. (6 sources that would be useful to family members or family supports)
- Articles that provide information and insight into the needs and characteristics of the families (5 sources at least 2 from academic journals)
For each source you find will include a one paragraph summary and use APA format for citation. Each summary will describe the content of the material, relevance to Human Service practice and relevance to parents or family members. For this assignment you will open a WordPress site to collect your resources and innovatively co-create and compile your research into finished collection for families, multi-disciplinary professional, community partners, student colleagues, and others to view. Instructions and tutorials will be provided on how to use WordPress. I would highly recommend your group be creative and attentive to your visual presentations on WordPress.
* The above assignment was originally designed by Jay Goddard and was altered to a WordPress assignment.
Assistance for Single Families by Ricardo, Emma and Sophia
Being a single parent in a household can be stressful, difficult to manage and at times you might feel lost. Parents who are seeking assistance may struggle to find valuable resources that will promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle. It is our hope that here you will discover the multiple supports offered to those who are raising a child without a partner.
From Assistance for Single Families by Ricardo, Emma and Sophia, used with the author’s permission.
More Alternative Assessment Ideas
As the semesters go on, the possibilities for online alternative assignments grow. Whether you are looking for something new and exciting online like Gamification, which can be a learning curve but definitely worth it. Or want to try Podcasting, which the following projects essentially created an audio assessment for their project and uploaded on Moodle or onto a WordPress site as well. Yes, there are opportunities to create and upload Podcast episodes to streaming platforms, and it is always an option down the road – but that isn’t necessary and won’t take away from this experience!
Copy of Project Assignment by Dr. Kathie McKinnon
Gamification: Human Development Theory
The purpose of this group-based assignment is to develop a WordPress site with a comprehensive and well-researched online text-based game or branching game on a Human Development theory (and theorist/s) as explored in the course textbook (and other sources) and an Indigenous traditional view of human development (Anderson book and other sources). Incorporating other social work theories is recommended. This assignment will deepen your understanding and practice of group work. This game will co-create new knowledge, learning, and awareness of a Human Development theory and its respective theorists for social work students and their future social work practice. Your constructive critique of this theory is essential to this assignment: what are the strengths and limitations, biases, cultural relevance and sensitivity, gender and diversity inclusion, etc. of this theory? What are the implications for social work practice? This is an academic assignment so please ensure you reference all material appropriately. Use APA throughout and include an APA-style reference page at the end of your group work.
Choose one human development theory and its accompanied theorist/s, research this theory and theorist/s, engage in learning dialogues among your group, and co-create a comprehensive, creative, innovative, interactive educational learning game that integrates knowledge of theory, critique of the theory, and the application of this theory to social work practice. Be creative, be imaginative, be innovative, and challenge your participants understanding and knowledge of the chosen theory and the implications to social work practice. Your group will also write a game evaluation/rating at the end of the game for your game participants to complete. You will be paired up with another group of three who will be your game participants, and you will be their game participants (this is a reciprocal process). Post your group’s game in the designated Moodle forum area. Each group member will participate in the game and complete the game evaluation, then each participating group member will write a respectful critique (they will share their critical thoughts and analysis) inclusive of comments and any questions about your game and the implications it had on their respective social work learning and their future social work practice (1 page double spaced) – remember this is a reciprocal process. Example: Group A does this for Group J and vice versa. How would you improve your game based on these respectful critiques? In a one-page (double-spaced) response, each of your group members will reply to one of the three respective critiques (you will decide as a group who will respond to who) and then post this on the designated Moodle forum.
You can view the template provided to students as starting place at https://gamification-a-theory.trubox.ca/.
Learning and Applying Social Cognitive Theory by Rebecca, Abby and Kayla.
socialcognitivetheory.trubox.ca
Copy of Project Assignment by Dr. Kathie McKinnon
SOCW 3000 (Canadian Social Policy): Research and Knowledge Quest Part Two
Create an Academic Research-based Podcast about your chosen social policy concern. It must be 20 minutes long (no more, no less).
- To conclude the podcast part of the Research and Knowledge Quest Part Two, students will be randomly partnered up to work with another student, they will each listen to each other’s podcasts, followed by engaging with each other in an online or in-person curious conversation about each other’s podcasts, asking curious questions and sharing this experience with one another.
- This will be followed by each student writing and posting on a selected Dropbox a 500-word critically constructive, curious, and respectful review (constructive critique) of each other’s podcasts (this review must include two curious questions posed for the podcast creator to reflect upon and answer).
- You will each then write and post a thoughtful response (500 words) to each other’s critical review. This a relational and mutual learning experience. (See more details below).
Individual Academic Research-based Podcast:
Please compose a well-researched and referenced academic script or notes to use for your podcast on your chosen social policy concern.
The introduction section of your scholarly academic research-based podcast should provide a detailed roadmap for your dialogical discourse with an emphasis on your social policy concern, target population, geographic location, and piece of Canadian legislation that you will focus on in your research-based podcast. Please answer the following fundamental question in this section of your podcast: What specific social policy concern for selected target population in specific geographic location will you analyze using the selected Act? The answer to this question will form your thesis statement (what) part of your podcast. The second part of your thesis statement (so what)? will refer to your argument. You can choose to speak to whether the selected piece of Canadian legislation provides available, accessible, acceptable, affordable, appropriate, or adequate (choose at least one A word) service for your specific target population in selected geographic location to address the selected social policy concern. The introduction section of the podcast should also define the key terms which are used in the podcast. Make sure your selected social policy concern is very precise to focus your podcast on.
The next section of your podcast should describe the historical context: when, why, and how the selected social policy concern was incorporated in the Act. You should also provide the history of addressing the selected social policy concern for specific target population in your specific geographic location. Please use credible sources to support your analyses and share these in your podcast, as well as provide a written reference page in your report. It is important to have a strong understanding of the development of Canadian welfare state to complete this portion of the assignment.
The next section of your podcast should state the contemporary perspective on the selected social policy concern and answer key questions: Has the current perspective changed from the original way of addressing the social policy concern? If yes, please explain how and why? If no, please explain why?
For the final part of the body of your podcast, please read the CASW (2005) Code of Ethics, TRC Calls to Action, and MMIWG-FFADA summaries. Please analyze the implication the selected social policy concern has on social work practice referencing the CASW 2005 Code of Ethics and TRC Call to Action/MMIWG Calls to Justice Report (if applicable). The key question which you need to address in this section is how does the selected Act help to address the selected social policy concern based on the Code of Ethics values and TRC recommendations? This is a section of your podcast where you explore your argument and provide a suggestion on how to address the selected social policy concern that follows the CASW (2005) values and TRC/MMIWG recommendations.
You must demonstrate the ability to use technology to produce, record, and upload a 20-minute creative, innovative, and engaging research-based audio podcast about their respective social policy concern and its implications for social work practice. You must also demonstrate that you understand your podcast as an academic, scholarly, educational medium. You must demonstrate your production value, creativity, the use of various sounds and music, special effects, dialogical discourse, and accessible and anti-oppressive language.
Please do not forget to include the conclusion in your podcast, summarizing key findings and presenting some ideas for future research.
Your scholarly research-based podcast is a verbal creation (a spoken essay in essence); it should follow a strong convention of academic composition structure and style format (introduction, body/content, and conclusion) and all references should be cited in a written podcast reference page using the latest edition of the APA style (7th edition) that will be included in your report document. Please remember that you need to support all your statements in your podcast using information from academically credible sources. An academic source constitutes any peer-reviewed academic journal article, book, or government report in the area of your selected social policy concern/social welfare program. There are no limits on how many sources should be used in the podcast; however, to achieve grade B and higher the student should use at least seven academic sources in their research-based podcast. There are no maximum referencing requirements. Please do not use reflective I statements in your academic research-based podcast. Podcasts with numerous reflective I statements will not receive a passing grade, even if all assignment requirements have been followed. The podcast should be presented as an academic research-based podcast not a reflective analysis podcast. This does not mean you cannot be creative and innovative with your podcast presentation. If you do not have proper APA for all the sources in your podcast, 0% will be assigned for your work.
Podcast Information related to this assignment:
Social work is about relational and curious practice, engaging in curious conversations invites new learning and meaning-making in our practice and our lives. Your quest is to individually create an academic research-based podcast (as mentioned above, this is a spoken essay) exploring your social policy concern. Your podcast should engage your listeners with your passion, curiosity, and comprehensive research-based knowledge about your social policy concern in a meaningful manner. Being curious and relational constitutes great social work and research practice. Good researchers in podcasts are engaging and they define things as they go, they do not assume their listeners understand, and they are not boring. Podcasts are for anyone and not meant for just one audience. They are engaging and entertaining. Throughout this ongoing process this semester you will spend time dialoguing, researching, and formulating your social policy concern to create this riveting and creative 20-minute podcast. Sharing your research abilities in a podcast is a means of mobilizing your knowledge and creating meaning for others in your audience. My hope is that with each student’s permission their podcasts will be uploaded onto a SOCW 3000 WordPress site to showcase their research-based podcast pedagogies about significant social policy concerns. This site will enable learning for a diverse community of listeners.
* The above assignment was originally a research-based paper designed by Dr. Oleksandr Kondrashov and was adapted to a Podcast assignment.
Golden Years Podcast! by Rebecca and Jen.
Residential School Burial Sites by Erin Broughton
In the Fall of 2022 Erin covers a very important issue as it unfolded. In this podcast Erin discusses the residential school burial Sites and the many barriers that First Nations communities in BC were facing in accessing the funding and accessing the land to locate and bring their missing children home.
Post Secondary Education in Canadian Federal Prisons by Aaron Karcz
Aaron discusses the adequacy of post secondary education policy in Canadian federal prisons for adults. This podcast helps to understand society as a hierarchal structure of oppression, the relationship between legislation and prison policy making, and the importance of the providing alternative programs/ideas for education procurement in prisons.
The Adequacy to Addressing the Overrepresentation of Indigenous Children in Care in BC by Nina Simone
Nina discusses the adequacy to address the overrepresentation of indigenous children in care in BC. The podcast considers Canada’s past and current legislation regarding the child, family and community act, including the amendment that tool place in late 2022. Nina addresses the fact that currently, indigenous children represent the majority of children in care with BC’s child welfare system and that it is still very much rooted in racism. While also pointing out that the current political frameworks hold back indigenous communities from achieving greater success in their child welfare systems.
The Ongoing Drug Toxicity Crises by Shannon Bull
This podcast addresses the drug toxicity issue and the legislation surrounding prescribed safer supply of drugs in BC. Shannon highlights the urgency of the issue by giving current stats and defining the issue from a social work perspective by centering the issue within failed policy opposed to the failings of the person.
Sexual Violence by Piper Bowie
Piper discusses the accountability of sexual violence and misconduct policies in BC universities. Sexual violence on university campuses is not uncommon, this podcast relays many statistics and incorporates personal stories which get you thinking about how this can happen to anyone and how policies need to be enforced and not brushed off.
The Availability of Animal Accommodation in Canadian Emergency Shelters for Women Fleeing Violence by Katrina Suderman
Katrina discusses the fact that emergency shelters endorse the separation of women from a source of safety and comfort (their pets). This podcast recognizes the importance of allowing women to stay with their pets while seeking emergency shelter. Katrina emphasizes that emergency shelters can enhance the well-being and healing of women by encouraging and offering safe housing, for both women and their pets.
Accountability of Delegated Aboriginal Agencies to Provide Culturally Sensitive Care for Indigenous Children in BC by Perry Erikson
Perry explores the evolution of Indigenous child welfare in BC, from the devastating impacts of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop to recent legislative reforms like Bill C-92. The podcast emphasizes how new laws aim to provide culturally sensitive care while highlighting the ongoing need for better resources and understanding of intergenerational trauma in Indigenous child welfare services.
Accountability for Indigenous children aging out of foster care – in British Columbia – from (Child, Family and Community Service Act) by Timothy Hilton
Timothy Hilton explores the disproportionate representation of Indigenous children in BC’s foster care system and the impact of Bill C-92 on supporting youth aging out of care. The podcast features firsthand accounts from Indigenous youth and highlights organizations providing culturally appropriate services to help these young people transition successfully from the system.
Accountability of Government Structures to Disabled People with regards to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada and Capitalism by Ellis Rondquist
Ellis Rondquist examines how Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) legislation intersects with disability rights and capitalism, highlighting concerning statistics that show people with disabilities face significantly higher rates of poverty and unemployment. The podcast critically explores how recent MAID policy changes, particularly the removal of the “reasonably foreseeable death” requirement, may pressure disabled individuals to choose death over life in a system that fails to provide adequate support and resources for their wellbeing.
SOCW 3550 (Human Development): Podcast Assignment
In pairs of two, you will engage together in dialogical discourse about a chosen life stage of human development and the respective development perspectives (it is suggested you start your dialogical engagement early in the semester). Together you will spend time dialoguing and researching this life stage of human development to create a 20-minute podcast of your choice about the chosen life stage. Curious conversations like this emulate relational social work practice, as engaging in curious conversations together invite new learning and meaning-making in our practice and lives. Research for your podcast episode will involve multiple curious conversations and meetings together, this will be an ongoing process. As a pair, you both need to decide how you will creatively share your curious spoken words about the life stage in this podcast. How will you co-create and co-produce an audio file, an innovative podcast on your life stage topic that you will post on Moodle? Once you have posted your podcast another pair of students (they will be pre-selected) in the class will provide a critique with comments and questions (one page each double-spaced) that you will respond to (one page each double-spaced) on the Moodle forum. This is an academic assignment so please ensure you reference all material appropriately. Use APA throughout and include an APA-style reference page at the end of your group work.
Some social work thoughts… What curious questions will you pose to guide this podcast? Some examples might be: Why do social workers need to know about this life stage? Why is your chosen life stage important to future social work practice? What relative theories and theorists are integrated in practice with this life stage? Any critiques about these? How do you link cultural relevance and cultural sensitivity to this life stage? What do you think the experience of being a social worker working with people in this human development life stage might look like? How might this life stage inform your emerging approach to social work practice? Are there other factors to consider? How might you link this to issues of power, cultural diversity, developmental diversity, gender, social issues, etc? Does your life stage define a Western normative approach and/or Other approaches to social work practice? I would encourage you as a pair to start working on this assignment from the beginning of the term.
Podcast things to consider for this assignment…. Will you be hosts engaging in dialogues and sharing information about the life stage with your listeners? Will you be interviewers engaging in dialogues with others who have knowledge and/or practice with this life stage for your listeners? Will you be researchers sharing new knowledge and information about this life stage? Or, do you have other ideas? Will you think like a storyteller or like a lecturer? Engaging in curious and relational conversations are considered important practice, telling someone what to do does not usually bode well…What narrative will captivate your listeners? How will you research how to do a podcast and present your life stage, inclusive of respective theories and theorists, culturally relevant practice, etc? What makes a great podcast? Will your podcast be prudently scripted or completely improvised? Be curious and engage in curious conversations, being curious constitutes great social work and research practice. Good researchers in podcasts are engaging and they define things as they go, they do not assume their listeners understand and they are not boring. Podcasts are for anyone and not meant for just one audience. They are engaging and entertaining. How do you have curious conversations? How will you engage your listeners? How do you define social work language and terms to all listeners? How are you speaking or are you telling? How are you defining things for everyone? How are you making this interesting, understandable, and engaging to everyone?
TRU’s Learning Technology & Innovation team will introduce you all to podcasting and they will provide tutorials and share further information inclusive of demos and instructional resources on co-creating, co-producing, recording, and editing a podcast. They will share and explore ideas on easy, accessible, and free software and audio platforms.