Connectedness with digital technologies as a curricular challenge: Modes of integration between using tools and understanding the essence of technology

Abstract

Digital tools such as commonly used Electronic Client Systems are increasingly being employed in social work. This entanglement of practitioners and digital artefacts, which are inherently social, creates a demand for professionals trained in the usage of these tools. The presentation argues that the training of such usage skills is not the responsibility of the universities. Instead, they are called upon to enable students to analyze and evaluate the knowledge contained in these systems (Weber/Rink 2024) and the problematizations that precede them (Rink/Weber/Seelmeyer 2024). At the intersection of academia and professional practice, it is additionally necessary to establish appropriate formats for the training of the usage competencies.