Introduction to Social Work

Introduction

In every community, there are people who face challenges such as poverty, abuse, neglect, displacement, and mental health struggles. But who helps them when they are most vulnerable?

This is where social workers come in. They are professionals trained to support individuals, families, and communities in solving social problems and improving well-being.

In this WebQuest, you will explore the world of social work and understand how it impacts society—especially in the Philippines.

Task

You will act as a Junior Social Work Advocate Team tasked to create a community awareness campaign.

Your final output will be ONE of the following:

  • Digital poster campaign, OR
  • Short presentation (5–7 slides), OR
  • Infographic brochure

Your work must explain:

  • What social work is
  • Roles of a social worker
  • Common social issues they address
  • Importance of social work in communities
  • How young people can support social welfare efforts
Process

Step 1: Learn the Basics

Read about what social work is and what social workers do.

Step 2: Investigate Social Issues

Identify common social problems such as:

  • Poverty
  • Child protection issues
  • Domestic violence
  • Mental health challenges
  • Disaster response and relief

Step 3: Focus on Real-Life Context

Look for examples in the Philippines where social workers helped communities (e.g., disaster response, DSWD programs).

Step 4: Plan Your Output

Organize your content:

  • Title and theme
  • Key points
  • Visuals or icons
  • Real-life examples

Step 5: Create Your Campaign Material

Design your:

  • Poster, OR
  • Slides, OR
  • Infographic

Make it simple, clear, and visually engaging.

Step 6: Present Your Work

Explain your output in 2–4 minutes focusing on your key message.

Evaluation

Understanding of Social Work

  • Excellent (4): Demonstrates clear, complete, and accurate understanding of social work and its roles
  • Good (3): Shows mostly accurate understanding with minor missing details
  • Fair (2): Basic understanding but with limited or unclear explanations
  • Needs Improvement (1): Incorrect or unclear understanding of social work

⭐ Awareness of Social Issues

  • Excellent (4): Provides strong, relevant, and well-explained social issues with clear examples
  • Good (3): Identifies relevant social issues with some explanation
  • Fair (2): Mentions limited or general social issues with weak explanation
  • Needs Improvement (1): No clear or incorrect examples of social issues

⭐ Creativity & Design

  • Excellent (4): Highly creative, visually engaging, and well-organized output
  • Good (3): Good design with clear presentation
  • Fair (2): Basic or simple design with limited creativity
  • Needs Improvement (1): Poor design or incomplete output

⭐ Use of Information / Resources

  • Excellent (4): Uses multiple credible sources effectively and correctly
  • Good (3): Uses some reliable sources appropriately
  • Fair (2): Limited use of sources or weak referencing
  • Needs Improvement (1): No sources used or unreliable information

⭐ Communication / Presentation

  • Excellent (4): Very clear, confident, and well-organized presentation
  • Good (3): Mostly clear with minor issues in delivery
  • Fair (2): Some difficulty in explaining ideas clearly
  • Needs Improvement (1): Unclear or disorganized presentation
Conclusion

Through this WebQuest, you explored the important role of social workers in helping individuals and communities overcome challenges. You also learned how social welfare systems support vulnerable groups in society.

Reflect: If you were a social worker, what community issue would you prioritize and why?

Credits