Impact of Simulation on Social Work Students’ Attunement and Self-Awareness Skills

Summary

This study utilizes mixed asynchronous-synchronous simulations to examine whether simulation training grounded in the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) tool can build MSW student’s attunement and self-awareness skills. The multi-method simulations included pairing avatar-based virtual exercises with a live remote session involving a trained actor. Long-term goals for the study include establishing simulation as a viable, low-stakes tool for teaching interpersonal attunement in social work education. The project is based in an MSW program at Loyola University, in partnership with Erikson Institute. Findings from student reflection papers and pre/post quantitative measures suggest that simulation-based training can produce significant improvements in students’ attunement skills alongside gains in self-awareness and strengths-based practice.