This book highlights the expansive and evolving developments of simulation-based learning and research in social work education and practice. Simulation-based learning is a deliberate teaching approach that uses structured, interactive, realistic scenarios, with trained actors or staged environments or with virtual or technology-enhanced platforms, that replicate real-world practice situations. These immersive experiential opportunities allow learners to develop and practice skills, receive feedback, reflect critically, and strengthen professional competencies.

This edited volume brings together leading scholars, practitioners, and educators, showcasing the innovations and emerging advancements in simulation pedagogy. The chapters in this collection explore the diverse simulation modalities used across social work education, including generalist and specialized practice contexts, interprofessional education, and cutting-edge virtual and technological applications. It offers insights into how in-person, hybrid, and fully online simulations expand teaching possibilities, enhances learning and application, and shapes the advancement of simulation-based pedagogy in social work.

This book is a valuable resource for educators, trainers, and practitioners committed to advancing evidence-informed social work education and practice in today’s complex and rapidly evolving practice landscape.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue in Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education, and Research.