Practice Skills Lab

The primary purpose of the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work’s Practice Skills Lab is to provide students with a state-of-the-art technological environment that fosters learning, offers an arena for demonstration of skill acquisition and promotes professional social work practice.

Technology available in the Lab offers students and faculty the opportunity to videotape simulation exercises, role plays and other courses assignments designed to help students learn best practices and skill development.

On this page, you will find information on lab hours, obtaining technology assistance, guidelines for lab use and a link to scheduling a lab room. The Practice Skills Lab is only for use by students in Social Work courses under the direction of a Social Work instructors.

ROOM RESERVATIONS

Students may now schedule time with the Practice Skills Lab! See PSL Room Reservations at the bottom of this page for instructions.

EVENING RESERVATION

The Practice Skills Lab on the 4th floor of the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work building is a private space – entering the floor without a reservation may trigger an alarm. Always use the elevator. If the elevator is broken, call 608-263-3660 to make sure the floor is unlocked, or check with a staff member.

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Practice Skills Room Reservations

The Practice Skills Lab has eight rooms available for use. The list below can serve as a guideline for which room you should reserve, depending on how many partners you are working with:

Room 417a: 2 people
Room 417b: 2 people
Room 418: 2-3 people
Room 420: 2-5 people
Room 424: 2-4 people
Room 425: 2-3 people
Room 427: Discussion Lab – Not for Practice Skills Lab use
Room 430: 2-3 people
Room 431: 2-8 people

Fall 2021 Open Hours

We are no longer doing pre-set open hours. Please email skillslab@socwork.wisc.edu to reserve lab time between 9am and 4pm, Monday through Friday. The Lab will be opened for you during that time. If you have technical issues, see Russ in Room 328.

No open hours available on Saturdays or Sundays, or in the summer.

Ready to schedule a room?
Email skillslab@socwork.wisc.edu the details of when you would like to schedule, which room, and if you have a partner (or partners) working with you, please list their names as well in the email. You will receive a confirmation email when you are added to the calendar. Once you have confirmation you can, if you wish, use the Scheduling Guide above to have the video system queue up your recording prior to your arrival. You can then go directly to your recording room, and begin at the appointed time. Alternatively, you can use a computer in the viewing room, or a personal laptop, and begin recording when you arrive.

Note that Lab time may be restricted by classes being held on the 4th floor of the School.

 

LAB ASSISTANCE

If you need technical help while you are using the Lab, contact Russ at portier@wisc.edu or call 608-263-3616.

COURTESY/RULES TO FOLLOW

  1. Please do not eat or drink in the Skills Lab.
  2. Please do not sit on the tables.
  3. Please put the room back the way you found it when you are done with your work.
  4. Please be sure that the lights are turned off when you are finished with a room.
  5. Please be sure you are not the only person using the lab.  If you do not have a student colleague with you, check with staff on 3rd floor.
  6. Please note that even if the rooms are not being used, the Skills Lab is not for use as study space.

If you have questions or feedback, please email Russ Portier at: portier@wisc.edu

NOTICE REGARDING PRIVACY

Videos created in the Lab or uploaded to the Lab’s server are not anonymous. Administrators will regularly review videos to ensure the technology is being used appropriately. Cameras and microphones in the Lab space are viewable to anyone with access while the room is not actively recording. Please be aware that conversations held in these rooms may not be private.