USA The Program for Social Services Research, Demonstration and Training with Western Washington University and under contracts with the State of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services and Department of Children and Family Services has been developing Interactive Multimedia professional skills training for more than 4 years. Interactive videodisc packages include training for receptionists in the income assistance office, interviewing skills for social service and financial service workers, risk assessment for child sexual abuse and indicators of child physical abuse for beginning case workers. These packages range from 1 to 6 videodisc sides and up to 24 user contact hours.
All instructional designs have tutorial and simulation exercises.
The simulations can then be reviewed by the learner as complete video sequence. Simulation topics include interviews with an AIDS client under the influence and a client who discloses sexual abuse problems. Currently, WWU offers computer based simulations in cultural diversity, Mexican American Simulations, and a CBT for generating content to be used in cultural simulations. Another area of interactive training developed this past year is video tape packages. This is collaborative effort with state employees which guarantees the appropriate skill levels and content in this field.