Auburn Online, a unit within Auburn University’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Biggio Center), is bringing innovative teaching approaches to online education through its collaboration with the university’s Master of Social Work program. By working closely with faculty, Auburn Online is helping develop courses that connect academic concepts with real-world professional practice while creating opportunities for student engagement.
The partnership highlights Auburn Online’s approach to course development, bringing together faculty expertise with instructional design, learning technologies and other resources to create engaging online learning experiences. From developing interactive case studies to adapting classroom activities for asynchronous instruction, Auburn Online works alongside faculty to address teaching challenges and strengthen online courses.
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Auburn’s Master of Social Work program, ranked No. 1 in Alabama, prepares students for advanced clinical practice in health and mental health. Through the collaboration with Auburn Online, courses are designed to provide flexibility for students balancing graduate education with professional and family responsibilities while maintaining opportunities to develop essential social work skills.
Developing courses for the program typically takes two semesters, with Social Work faculty and the Auburn Online team meeting weekly to plan and refine course content.
Together, they establish learning objectives, review existing materials and identify the skills students need. Assignments align with course outcomes and Council on Social Work Education competencies.
Faculty contribute their subject matter expertise and classroom experience, while Auburn Online provides guidance and resources related to course development, instructional design, learning technologies and strategies for engaging online students. This ongoing collaboration helps both teams identify instructional challenges and develop approaches that support the program’s goals.
“We are invested in making the Auburn experience just as meaningful for online students,” said Sydney Lockwood, an instructional designer with Auburn Online and course development project lead.
The team also considers students’ other responsibilities when organizing materials, scheduling assignments and creating activities. Many students already work in the field and bring professional experiences that help them connect course concepts to social work practice.
Bringing professional practice into online courses
One of the challenges the team has addressed is how to provide students with opportunities to practice interpersonal skills and therapeutic approaches in an asynchronous environment.
Rather than simply moving traditional classroom activities online, Social Work faculty and Auburn Online collaborate to develop experiences that enable students to apply course concepts to situations they may encounter in professional practice.
One example is a case study that follows a client across the lifespan. Students examine the client’s changing circumstances and apply social work theories at different stages. Other courses feature recurring social worker personas who model approaches to professional situations.
“We designed the case studies to connect classroom learning with professional practice,” Lockwood said. “They provide repeated opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.”
The partnership has also incorporated role-playing activities giving students opportunities to interact with classmates and instructors, share professional experiences and build connections within their cohort.
“Our collaboration with Auburn Online has transformed the way we deliver social work education,” said Danilea Werner, associate professor and director of the Master of Social Work program. “By combining our expertise in social work practice with Auburn Online's strengths in instructional design, we have created engaging and innovative learning experiences that support student success. This partnership has also allowed us to reach students across the country, including those in rural communities, expanding access to a high-quality Auburn education and helping prepare the next generation of professional social workers.”
The collaboration is also influencing teaching beyond the online program. One Social Work faculty member has incorporated videos and case studies developed through the collaboration with Auburn Online into an in-person course, using a flipped classroom approach. Students engage with the materials before class, allowing more time for discussion and practical application during class meetings.
Supporting ongoing course improvement
Auburn Online’s work with the program continues after courses launch. Weekly student feedback helps instructors identify issues and adjust during the semester.
The Master of Social Work program is also preparing to participate in Auburn Online’s continuous improvement process, which leverages student feedback and learning analytics to guide course revisions.
“By combining faculty expertise with our team’s instructional design experience, we create online courses that support student learning,” said Shawndra Bowers, associate director of learning experience design with the Biggio Center. “Our partnership with Social Work demonstrates the value of that collaboration.”
Faculty and academic programs interested in developing online courses or enhancing existing offerings can contact Auburn Online at instdes@auburn.edu to learn more about collaboration opportunities and available support.
