NARRATIVE METHOD IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

The article is focused on analysis of existing understanding of narrative method of teaching by modern scholars, as well as the specific ways and goals of its application in their everyday practice. Particular consideration is given to exploration of narratives in social work education in higher education settings. Detailed description and in-depth analysis is provided on the use of narratives in teaching social work Bachelor program courses at the School of Social Work of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. An analysis is provided for the content of topics of studies where such narratives are used like life history, oral narratives etc. The presented specific cases of narrative use cover the following issues: students’ creating and telling the narrative on behalf of the imagined character with the relevant characteristics; using visualization (photos), based on which the narrative is created; creating and delivering the future narrative by participation of the other character; understanding the history narrative; analysis and interpretation of narratives collected by the use of oral narrative or life story. It is claimed that using the narrative promotes students’ activization, empowers them for the project work, enables their gaining new experience and experiential learning. Moreover, developing and telling the narratives enhances students’ intense communication and creativity as well as their engagement into the education process which is of high importance within the distance learning framework. The narrative is of high value for the social work education and training as this approach ensures developing capacity to listen to the clients’ stories, to analyze and to understand their life stories, to assist in changing clients’ lives by using success stories.