Elective Module Social Work: Social Work in the Digital Age

Department

Master's Program Social Work, Social Policy & Management

Course unit code

SOA-M-3-SOA-WMD-ILV

Number of ECTS credits allocated

5.0

Name of lecturer(s)

Koglek Robert, MA MSc, Posch Magdalena, BA MA MA, FH-Prof. Dr. Schlögl Stephan

Mode of delivery

face-to-face/optional online

Recommended optional program components

none

Recommended or required reading

Andrejevic, Mark. (2011): Facebook als neue Produktionsweise. In Generation Facebook, Hrsg. O. Leistert T. Röhle, 31-49. Bielefeld: transcript

Ahvenharju, Sanna; Minkkinen, Matti; Lalot, Fanny (2018): The five dimensions of Futures Consciousness. In: Futures 104, S. 1-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2018.06.010.

Ballantyne, Neil (2015): Human Service Technology and the Theory of the Actor Network. In: Journal of Technology in Human Services 33 (1), S. 104-117. DOI: 10.1080/15228835.2014.998567.

Bauer, Ullrich; Bittlingmayer, Uwe H.; Scherr, Albert (Hg.) (2020):
Becker, Heidrun (2018): Robotik in der Gesundheitsversorgung: Hoffnungen, Befürchtungen und Akzeptanz aus Sicht der Nutzerinnen und Nutzer: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden (Pflegeroboter), S. 229-248.

Patton, Desmond Upton; Eschmann, Robert D.; Butler, Dirk A. (2013): Internet banging: New trends in social media, gang violence, masculinity and hip hop. In: Computers in Human Behavior 29 (5), A54-A59. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.035.

Pfadenhauer, Michaela; Dukat, Christoph (2016): Professionalisierung lebensweltlicher Krisen durch Technik? In: Österreich Z Soziol 41 (S1), S. 115-131. DOI: 10.1007/s11614-016-0210-1.
Pink, Sarah; Ferguson, Harry; Kelly, Laura (2021): Digital social work: Conceptualising a hybrid anticipatory practice. In: Qualitative Social Work, 147332502110036. DOI: 10.1177/14733250211003647.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam, Course immanent examination, Homework

Level of course unit

Master

Year of study

Fall 2025

Semester when the course unit is delivered

3

Language of instruction

English

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Position social work within the digital environment by examining how digitalisation reshapes professional roles, responsibilities, and service delivery.

Develop and demonstrate digital competence as a core professional skill in social work practice.

Critically analyse opportunities and risks of virtual spaces across different fields of social work, with particular attention to accessibility, inclusion, and potential harms.

Evaluate ethical challenges arising in digital social work, including data protection, professional boundaries, and client rights.

Explore emerging technologies such as social robots and artificial intelligence, and assess their implications for social work fields of action.

Reflect on the impact of digitalisation on socially disadvantaged groups and propose strategies to reduce digital divides.

Integrate ethical, professional, and future-oriented thinking to responsibly use digital tools in counseling and social work practice.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

erfolgreiche Absolvierung 2. Semester

Course contents

Having a broader understanding of the digital world
Understanding benefits and risks of digitalisation, including when working with clients
Being aware of possible ethical and legal implications
Generating digital competencies for social work

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course comprises an interactive mix of lectures, discussions and individual and group work.

Work placement(s)

none