Norfolk State University

The overall goals and objectives were to determine if providing BSW students with experiential learning experiences were more likely to state a preference for working with older adults compared to students who were not exposed to an experiential learning component. Experiential components in which students learned to provide confidential, ethical treatment of human participants and protection of vulnerable groups, as well as basic interviewing skills, collection, recording, and assessment of interview data were provided. A total of 31 students participated in the project during year I (13) and year II (18).

Each class's curriculum was tailored to provide different material, but in each, the gero material was successfully integrated.

Courses that Included Experiential Activity:

• Introduction to Social Work
• Social Work Research

Gero Practice Behaviors:

• Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research
• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
• Applying ethical principles to guide professional practice