Units
Group Work
Unit code: PYB257
Contact hours: 1 week intensive between semesters 1 & 2
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit provides an opportunity for experiential group learning, either intensively or in regular program times. It examines types of groups and varieties of group experiences: the importance and uniqueness of group medium; understanding behaviour in the group context; theories and models of group development; leader and member behaviours; planning; implementing and evaluating group methods; establishing groups and planning group approaches; the group as a therapeutic community; evaluating group work; ethical issues.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Much of our life occurs in group contexts. The social interactions and personal learning we derive from our group experiences are central to our self-understanding and personal effectiveness. These groups can include the naturally occurring family, work and social groups or specifically established learning, activity, self help, support or advocacy groups to the more focussed counselling or therapy groups.
Experience in group situations is often the only way in which our clients can develop a sense of personal power and effectiveness. They are able to learn greater responsibility for their behaviour by receiving feedback on others' perceptions. Groups also engender a sense of belonging or social significance. They provide a climate for the ventilation and clarification of concerns and for the validation of personal perception and experience. They facilitate greater effectiveness in social-skills and understanding through experimentation, sharing and vicarious learning.
In addition to an appreciation of the effectiveness of groups formed to deal with specific client concerns, we must also understand the functioning of clients' family, work or social groups. Positive personal outcomes for clients are often the direct result of changes that can be facilitated in the operation of these naturally occurring groups.
A commitment to facilitating group functioning is also essential in the work of professional teams. We are increasingly being required to plan, problem-solve and make decisions on a team basis. Group communication and team building skills are essential to this process. Community development, consultancy and neighbourhood work also generally involve a group process.
The use of group work is at the centre of the changes in the philosophy of helping from professionally based advice-giving to the facilitation of self-help, mutual support and empowerment.
Aims
This unit provides the understanding and skills to facilitate the personal and social development of people in groups. The very powerful mechanisms and processes that occur in groups can be effective agents for change.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- Describe a number of concepts and models used to understand and explain social behaviour and communication in human service group situations.
- Apply these to an understanding of your own and others' functioning and coping in groups.
- Plan, facilitate and evaluate a group activity or experience on a particular issue.
- Demonstrate an awareness of relevant group process factors operating in particular human service groups.
- Analyse behaviours of particular groups in terms of models and constructs of group development theory.
- Introduction to groups; the range of different types of groups in human service practice; the Inductive Learning Cycle; group formation and trust.
- Developing effective group norms and establishing goals and cohesiveness without conformity pressures.
- Group leadership and roles within groups.
- Stages of group development and the effects on members.
- Self-efficacy.
- Organising and facilitating group work in human service work.
- Understanding and dealing with power and intimacy issues.
- Facilitator interventions.
- Conflict and defensiveness; dealing with client difference; facilitating difficult or defensive behaviour.
- Group decision making.
- Running group sessions.
- The use of critical incidents in group life.
- Group closure; ethics; co-leadership; supervision; referrals; working with different types of groups; research.
- Group work in particular human service settings and for particular skills or experience, e. g., self help, mutual support or advocacy groups.
- History of the group movement.
Content
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
An intensive week long group, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, is held prior to the semester during the week of 11-15 July 2011.
Each group session is conducted according to the inductive learning cycle in which group experience is followed by sharing, processing, theorising and applying. The aim of each group is to experience ongoing interaction at different stages of group development with a view to conceptualising the experience for use in facilitating client and staff groups.
Assessment
Because of the experiential nature of the unit, assessment is on a SATISFACTORY (S) UNSATISFACTORY (U) basis. Each of the assessment items must be satisfactorily completed.
Assessment name:
Attendance & Participation
Description:
Attendance and active participation in group sessions. This is mandatory.
Relates to objectives:
1 & 2.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
TBA
Assessment name:
Facilitate a Learning Exper.
Description:
Facilitate a learning experience during the group sessions. Students may choose from the concepts listed in the "Content" section above, or other concept formally approved by their facilitator. It is intended that this activity provides a solid basis for a written critical analysis and evaluation of a concept of significance in small group dynamics and/or small group development. (1500 words).
Relates to objectives:
3.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
TBA
Assessment name:
Review of Group Experience
Description:
Analyse and apply group theory to your experiences during the life and work of the group. Describe both your insights into the functioning and development of the group and your own responses and contributions to group life.
Relates to objectives:
4 & 5.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
TBA
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Textbook: Johnson, D.W & Johnson, F.P. (2009) Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Education, c2009.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 13-Sep-2012
