Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Define arts-based pedagogy as an intentional curriculum design approach in social work education.
2. Identify three learning domains supported by evidence from a systematic literature review: collaborative learning, ethics and social justice reasoning, and reflexive professional capacities.
3. Explain how slowing learning through reflection and dialogue supports deeper ethical and emotional reasoning, drawing on key ideas from transformative learning and critical pedagogy.
4. Summarize course-based evidence from one study abroad social work course demonstrating how arts-based pedagogy supported student learning about ideological conflict.

Presenter Bio

Kristen Theile is a dual doctoral student pursuing a Doctor of Social Work and a PhD in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She is a Doctoral Candidate in the DSW program with a concentration in Social Work Education. She serves as a research assistant at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and College of Public Health. Her research focuses on strengthening systems and addressing barriers that contribute to social determinants of health.

Kristen’s DSW capstone project examines how art can be implemented within collegiate social work pedagogy to support critical reflection, engagement, and transformative learning. Her doctoral training is grounded in community-engaged research, mixed-methods inquiry, and evaluation, with experience supporting projects aimed at improving system coordination, equity, and access across human service settings.

She has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and has presented research findings at local, state, and national conferences. Her conference and publication experience spans topics such as mandated reporting and community support, trauma-informed organizational practices, practitioner well-being, rural systems, and social justice-oriented education.

Kristen is a recipient of the University of Kentucky DREAM Scholar award and is a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Before doctoral study, she spent nearly a decade partnering with youth and families experiencing poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, community violence, and system involvement. These professional experiences continue to inform her commitment to upstream system improvement and translating research into practical, responsive tools for practice and education.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.