Social Work Month spotlight: Positive energy is contagious

Michael Daniels is both technologically savvy and old-school in his teaching style.

The East Carolina University faculty member in the School of Social Work uses creative immersive video and interview simulations to train future social workers, yet a written assignment supports the transparent, calming learning environment Daniels strives to create. He gives students time to ponder and write their main takeaway from each face-to-face class session to turn in to Daniels.

It’s not a delayed email, online submission or text message. Students write down their thoughts and hand their paper to Daniels as they exit class.

Faculty member Michael Daniels high-fives graduates after an HHP graduation recognition in Minges Coliseum.

“He has a way of keeping the class upbeat, energized and engaged throughout the session,” social work graduate student Niki Cobb said. “He brings a high level of positive energy to the classroom that is contagious.”

Daniels calls the pen-and-paper assignment an exit interview reflection. Students can write about whatever thoughts are on their mind moments before class ends. The notes provide Daniels with tangible, immediate feedback while creating another opportunity for him to support students.

“It gives me a good gauge of where the student is, because sometimes they will share personal stuff from those interactions,” he said. “It gives me an opportunity to provide them with encouragement in different life areas that may not specifically be academic.”

ECU’s social work program is part of the College of Health and Human Performance, which includes the Department of Human Development and Family Science with degree programs including family and community services, marriage and family therapy and medical family therapy. ECU created the first doctoral program in the nation in medical family therapy in 2005.

Students studying human services fields are often preparing to help other people.

“For social work and any human service profession, most people come to the profession based on some positive or negative life experience that they’ve encountered,” Daniels said. “What that does is it motivates them to either help prevent other people from having a negative life experience, or it motivates them to help somebody out of that situation.”

Daniels said happiness has three pillars: gratitude, kindness and faith. He added that life experiences and gratitude are instrumental to spreading happiness.

“Gratitude is seeing the value and the good in people,” he said. “When you see the good and potential in other people, that makes you want to ask how people are doing and to learn more about them. I think those are the things that lead to being happy and spreading that out as well.”

Social Work graduate student Riley Franklin is motivated by Daniels’ positivity and passion.

“I’m a big believer in having a positive attitude, so it really helps me feel motivated in class when that upbeat positive energy is reflected by a professor,” Franklin said. “I do feel like his attitude is unique. I’ve never had a professor start the day with music and just seem to care so much about their students.”