ASWB welcomes one of its largest-ever item writer cohorts

In-person item writer training prepares social workers to develop practice-based exam questions

In August, ASWB’s Examination Development staff hosted its first in-person item writer training since 2019. Alongside a group of exam development consultants, staff members welcomed 28 new item writers to a two-and-a-half–day workshop in Arlington, Virginia.

Front row, Left to right: Mackenzie Leach, NC; Tammy Sung, TX; Radinka Jeyathas, ON; Blake McCullough, MI; Cheryl Fergerson, MS; Mandasia Arroyo, NY; Vivian Colón, NY. Second row: Charina Carothers, WA; Brittany Moffitt, MD; Victoria Gray, FL; Stephanie Canales, KY; Catalina Ramos Gomez, NC; Karen Wasylenka, SK; Kam Yin (Trista) Lam, AB; Mackenzie Broomfield, AB; Carisa Sanchez, CT. Back row: Qur-an Webb, CT; Darron Garner, TX; James Farrell, MA; Leslie Hellrung, KS; Shelley Hale, ON; Robin Richards, NJ; Aly Peeler, NC; Anna Beckloff, OH; Raina Williams Caldwell, TX; Kalene DeHaut, NJ; Veronica Knowles, MS; Timothy Donalson, NJ.

The diverse group of participants, one of the largest cohorts ever trained by ASWB, was selected from hundreds of applicants. The group represents a wide range of practice areas, geographic locations, and racial and ethnic identities. While some participants were completely new to the exam program, others had served in other capacities, including as Practice Analysis Task Force members and standard setting panelists.

Lavina Harless, LCSW, ASWB senior director of examination services, who originated the training program nearly 20 years ago, noted, “We were inspired by the strong participation in this program and the impressive qualifications of the trainees. The social workers selected will play an important role in helping to ensure ASWB examinations remain valid, fair, and reflective of professional practice.”

“The training was highly effective in strengthening my understanding of the ASWB item development process,” wrote one participant on the post-session evaluation, “and increasing my confidence in writing application- and reasoning-based items.”

ASWB item writers use the exam content outlines developed through an analysis of social work practice — combined with their practice experience and social work background — to craft questions (items) testing social work applied knowledge. They work as paid contractors, and their work is the first of many steps in item development. Two women sitting at a desk in a meeting room. They are looking at a packet of papers.

The training included introductory remarks by ASWB CEO Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Ph.D., JD, LCSW, PGDip, about the way the work of item writing affects the social work profession far into the future. Other sessions offered a broad overview of exam development activities, detailed instruction on writing exam questions, and hands-on writing, reviewing, and item editing in small groups and one-on-one sessions with consultants.

The careful planning of a variety of learning experiences was well received by attendees, who left the training ready to begin their item writing journey. “The training was highly effective in strengthening my understanding of the ASWB item development process,” wrote one participant on the post-session evaluation, “and increasing my confidence in writing application- and reasoning-based items.”