**2.2 How the e-Books were made**

Information was elicited from students, practice teachers, tutors and other social work educators as to what they defined as the most important topics in the area of fieldwork placement. This was achieved with discussion groups in class and outside meetings with agency social workers. The participants on the NUI Galway Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Teaching, Supervision and Management course were also vocal in what they saw as important in the fieldwork relationship and development of the student's professional identity. Pre 2016 across a period of 2 years (2013–2015) a number of excellent podcasts and short videos had already been made by MSW students, practice teachers and visiting experts and it was expected to use these as a starting resource and add to it with current short video and aural podcasts. Over a period of 2 years NUI Galway has benefited from the expertise of acclaimed in-house and visiting professionals. Professor Mark Doel as external examiner of the MSW program at NUI Galway (2012–2015) gave generously of his time in contributing to two of the eBooks (eBook 1 and eBook 6 [35, 55]). In particular, his short video on 'Why is Groupwork Important?' [55] allowed the viewer not only to visually recognize and connect with the author, but be impressed by the sincerity of his delivery and practical wisdom. Marian Bogo and Pamela Trevithick [56] are eminent authors in the fundamental principles of social work practice, thus giving depth and credence to their expressed opinions within the eBooks. Both came to Ireland in 2015 and spoke eloquently on the topics of feedback and current social work practice with advice for practice teachers. Australian academics Lynn McPherson [56] and published author Helen Cleak [57] engaged the listener in both the safety issues for placement and the universally important elements of how to 'finish well' the placement experience.

The experts continued with Professor Pat Dolan [35], a UNESCO Professor and Director of the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway, sharing his considered opinion on the video podcast in eBook 1 [35] 'What is Professional Identity?. He suggests for the listener a global view and one which has multi setting and dimensional elements. In many ways *all* of the contributors to the eBooks were experts in the messages or opinions they imparted because it was their imparted wisdom, put into words, which they believed to be most relevant in relation to the various settings and topics. Other Irish Universities also contributed, University College Cork were represented by their BSW/MSW staff Mary Wilson and Deirdre Quirke [55]. In all, the contribution of NUI Galway Professor of Social Work Caroline McGregor [56] provided an expert overarching view of the foundational principles of social work, presented in an engaging, modern and technological way on the MSW program.

Ultimately, it was the author's 11 years of professional experience with the NUI Galway Masters in Social Work program and her 35 years experience within the social work profession that consolidated all the information and eventually made the judgment on content. Attention is drawn to **Table 1**.


**101**

Feedback [56]).

*Irish Field Education/Social Work Placement: The Making of Multi-Touch eBooks...*

(The importance of social work theory was not discounted but due to the wealth of textbooks in this area, a decision was made not to include this topic in the current

Initially all eBooks 1–7 were written in iBook Author and configured for MAC or iPad with iBooks 2 or later and iOS 5 or later, an iPhone with iOS 8.4 or later, or a

Subsequently eBooks 2–7 can now also be downloaded as The PC/Android versions through Amazon Books and Kindle. These are common operating systems and not outside the general capability of downloadable eBooks. Copies of the eBooks 2–7 [55–60] were also uploaded onto the University's MSW PC computers and each person included in the making of the eBooks were presented with a personal USB containing all seven multi-touch eBooks. Work is continuing on the uploading of eBook 1 to PC/Android format. IBAN numbers were obtained through NUI Galway, and each University Library in the Republic of Ireland was offered the eBooks 2–7 as a free downloadable resource. Since 2017 The National University of Ireland, Galway Library's depository of academic research named ARAN/IRIS also welcomed the resource [61]. This made the eBooks technically free to both a National and International audience. (All free links to eBooks 2–7 appear in the References

All multi-media for the eBooks was produced over a period of 2 years. Recording the audio podcasts mainly with a hand-held digital recorder proved to be the most reliable and immediate way to capture thoughts and ideas. Students used these in class, where, for example, in a post placement class they would divide into small groups and each group would make a podcast on their experience of 'supervision on placement'. With regard to the professionals, a number of practice teachers and tutors who were somewhat 'shy' of the video process choose to take away a digital recorder, record their piece on, for example 'Supporting the student on Placement'

Short videos and audio pieces heightened interest amid written research sections of the eBooks. What was the best way to produce the short videos? Would it be filming on an iPad, phone or in the Studio? Interestingly the iPad proved a superb mobile and immediate resource for gathering short videos. Students too enjoyed the freedom of being able to work on their short videos outside of class time when they had access to the class iPad (see student video in Book 6: Imaginative Groupwork [55], p. 9). Video recording within the NUI Galway Film Studio made the process more formal. NUI Galway affords its staff and students access to a small recording studio where, with the help of a professional technician recordings can be made. This model of filming worked well for interviews with leading authors such as the renowned author Pamela Trevithick (See Page 16 eBook 2 Social Work Placement: New Approaches. New Thinking. Assessment, Creative Supervision,

The use of both the aural podcasts and short videos helped to engage all the stakeholders within the placement experience. It presented to the students an application of learned theories, skills and roles, encouraging reflection, co-working, appreciating relevant evaluation and restyling action which was peer and expert led. The fundamental principle was one of 'sharing'. The sharing of information and the sharing of wisdom for all of the stakeholders involved. Permission for sharing

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89391*

**2.3 Downloading requirements and distribution**

**2.4 The nuts and the bolts of making the multi-media sharing**

and return the digital recorder to the Practice Learning Coordinator.

selection but possibly in the future).

MAC with OS × 10.9 or later.

section of this Chapter).

#### **Table 1.**

*Titles and contents of each eBook.*

*Irish Field Education/Social Work Placement: The Making of Multi-Touch eBooks... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89391*

(The importance of social work theory was not discounted but due to the wealth of textbooks in this area, a decision was made not to include this topic in the current selection but possibly in the future).

#### **2.3 Downloading requirements and distribution**

*Global Social Work - Cutting Edge Issues and Critical Reflections*

the judgment on content. Attention is drawn to **Table 1**.

Language Professional identity Expectations and beginnings

Assessment Creative supervision

Feedback

intelligence

Failing forward

Finishing well

Imaginative groupwork

Home visiting—Urban and rural

Reflective practice influenced by emotional

Cultural competence Virtual training

Book 1 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 2 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 3 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 4 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 5 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 6 Social work placement: New approaches.

Book 7 Social work placement: New approaches.

New thinking

New thinking

New thinking

New thinking

New thinking

New thinking

New thinking

*Titles and contents of each eBook.*

(2013–2015) a number of excellent podcasts and short videos had already been made by MSW students, practice teachers and visiting experts and it was expected to use these as a starting resource and add to it with current short video and aural podcasts. Over a period of 2 years NUI Galway has benefited from the expertise of acclaimed in-house and visiting professionals. Professor Mark Doel as external examiner of the MSW program at NUI Galway (2012–2015) gave generously of his time in contributing to two of the eBooks (eBook 1 and eBook 6 [35, 55]). In particular, his short video on 'Why is Groupwork Important?' [55] allowed the viewer not only to visually recognize and connect with the author, but be impressed by the sincerity of his delivery and practical wisdom. Marian Bogo and Pamela Trevithick [56] are eminent authors in the fundamental principles of social work practice, thus giving depth and credence to their expressed opinions within the eBooks. Both came to Ireland in 2015 and spoke eloquently on the topics of feedback and current social work practice with advice for practice teachers. Australian academics Lynn McPherson [56] and published author Helen Cleak [57] engaged the listener in both the safety issues for placement and the universally important elements of how to 'finish well' the placement experience. The experts continued with Professor Pat Dolan [35], a UNESCO Professor and Director of the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway, sharing his considered opinion on the video podcast in eBook 1 [35] 'What is Professional Identity?. He suggests for the listener a global view and one which has multi setting and dimensional elements. In many ways *all* of the contributors to the eBooks were experts in the messages or opinions they imparted because it was their imparted wisdom, put into words, which they believed to be most relevant in relation to the various settings and topics. Other Irish Universities also contributed, University College Cork were represented by their BSW/MSW staff Mary Wilson and Deirdre Quirke [55]. In all, the contribution of NUI Galway Professor of Social Work Caroline McGregor [56] provided an expert overarching view of the foundational principles of social work, presented in an engaging, modern and technological way on the MSW program. Ultimately, it was the author's 11 years of professional experience with the NUI Galway Masters in Social Work program and her 35 years experience within the social work profession that consolidated all the information and eventually made

**100**

**Table 1.**

Initially all eBooks 1–7 were written in iBook Author and configured for MAC or iPad with iBooks 2 or later and iOS 5 or later, an iPhone with iOS 8.4 or later, or a MAC with OS × 10.9 or later.

Subsequently eBooks 2–7 can now also be downloaded as The PC/Android versions through Amazon Books and Kindle. These are common operating systems and not outside the general capability of downloadable eBooks. Copies of the eBooks 2–7 [55–60] were also uploaded onto the University's MSW PC computers and each person included in the making of the eBooks were presented with a personal USB containing all seven multi-touch eBooks. Work is continuing on the uploading of eBook 1 to PC/Android format. IBAN numbers were obtained through NUI Galway, and each University Library in the Republic of Ireland was offered the eBooks 2–7 as a free downloadable resource. Since 2017 The National University of Ireland, Galway Library's depository of academic research named ARAN/IRIS also welcomed the resource [61]. This made the eBooks technically free to both a National and International audience. (All free links to eBooks 2–7 appear in the References section of this Chapter).

#### **2.4 The nuts and the bolts of making the multi-media sharing**

All multi-media for the eBooks was produced over a period of 2 years. Recording the audio podcasts mainly with a hand-held digital recorder proved to be the most reliable and immediate way to capture thoughts and ideas. Students used these in class, where, for example, in a post placement class they would divide into small groups and each group would make a podcast on their experience of 'supervision on placement'. With regard to the professionals, a number of practice teachers and tutors who were somewhat 'shy' of the video process choose to take away a digital recorder, record their piece on, for example 'Supporting the student on Placement' and return the digital recorder to the Practice Learning Coordinator.

Short videos and audio pieces heightened interest amid written research sections of the eBooks. What was the best way to produce the short videos? Would it be filming on an iPad, phone or in the Studio? Interestingly the iPad proved a superb mobile and immediate resource for gathering short videos. Students too enjoyed the freedom of being able to work on their short videos outside of class time when they had access to the class iPad (see student video in Book 6: Imaginative Groupwork [55], p. 9).

Video recording within the NUI Galway Film Studio made the process more formal. NUI Galway affords its staff and students access to a small recording studio where, with the help of a professional technician recordings can be made. This model of filming worked well for interviews with leading authors such as the renowned author Pamela Trevithick (See Page 16 eBook 2 Social Work Placement: New Approaches. New Thinking. Assessment, Creative Supervision, Feedback [56]).

The use of both the aural podcasts and short videos helped to engage all the stakeholders within the placement experience. It presented to the students an application of learned theories, skills and roles, encouraging reflection, co-working, appreciating relevant evaluation and restyling action which was peer and expert led. The fundamental principle was one of 'sharing'. The sharing of information and the sharing of wisdom for all of the stakeholders involved. Permission for sharing

all of the gathered material was collected and all participants in the eBook project appreciated that their podcasts and videos would be on general release once the eBooks were published.

#### **2.5 Commonalities of each eBook**

Throughout each of the e-Books there were a number of commonalities. (a) Each opened with an introduction video made by the author (approx. 3 min). (b) Throughout the eBooks opinion pieces on specific topics were presented as short videos (approx. 3 min) and/or aural podcasts (approx. 3 min) by students, practice teachers or tutors connected with the National University of Ireland, Galway MSW program. (c) In order to have a ready-made discussion tool each e-Book finished with sections on: 'The University's Responsibility', 'New Approaches. New Thinking', 'Questions' and a relevant seven slide 'Power point/Keynote presentation'.
