Enhancement of helping skills using videos and blended learning in social and health care education

Students in social and health care education often encounter difficulties translating the concepts in communication into the complexities of interpersonal dynamics and diversified contexts in practicums. Most previous resources were developed in English, and some Chinese materials were not up to date. In this project, social work teachers produced two sets of videos and initiated coursework revamping by engaging students in producing more communication skills videos. An e-learning community has been set up for the storage of teacher’s demonstration videos and quality student videos. The video was applied in skill practice courses and disseminated to social work practicum supervisors and students during the pandemic, as their face-to-face learning opportunities were restricted. Students reported improvements in levels of skills and competence after watching the videos. It shows that videos on communication skills can be further promoted as a blended learning strategy in professional practice training.