Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Working collaboratively and effectively with colleagues and clients in groups and teams is a key skill in human services and social work practice, particularly when working with vulnerable and often marginalised groups across diverse settings. This unit provides you with an opportunity to gain a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of groups and teams and to acquire beginning skills for effective engagement and intervention. It is located in the first year to provide a platform for collaborative academic and professional work.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with foundational knowledge and skills about group processes, the nature and impact of group work intervention for diverse and vulnerable groups, and an appreciation of practice in multi-disciplinary team contexts.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. describe group and team knowledge and skills required for effective group practice and structured program development (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5; GVS4 - 4.3);


2. apply group and team knowledge, skills and values to a specific group work intervention (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.10; GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2);


3. demonstrate an ability to operate effectively as a facilitator, participant and observer in diverse group settings (GVS2 - 2.3, 2.4; GVS3 - 3.3); and


4. undertake and critique the planning, design and implementation of a structured group program within a team context (GVS3 - 3.1, 3.3; GVS4 - 4.5).

Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.1.6
AASW Practice Standards: 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2
AIWCW Core Competencies: 1.1, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.3, 4.1, 4.4, 6.2

Content

The unit provides foundational knowledge on the nature of group and team work interventions and contributes to the development of professional knowledge, skills and values relevant to working with specific groups in multi-disciplinary team contexts. Topics include:

• Historical development and contemporary context of group work practice


• The role of experiential learning


• Types, purposes and classifications of groups and teams
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• Theoretical models of group and team practice and application across diverse formal and informal contexts


• Group dynamics: Life cycle of the group and skills required for planning and facilitating the group


• Leadership and facilitation of groups and teams: group interaction, power, communication and decision-making


• Planning and implementing a structured group program: Issues of group structure, composition and change goal including techniques for evaluation


• Team development, maintenance and productivity


• Group and team work with vulnerable groups (diverse populations, Indigenous)


• Legal and ethical dimensions of group work practice in agency contexts


• Group and team professional practice in social work and human services: Understanding agency systems, diverse client populations and developing agency skills.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is offered on campus in weekly 2 hour tutorials on-campus, with 1 hour online self-directed learning off-campus. Student learning is supported through an experiential learning method which requires students to engage in facilitated learning activities and work collaboratively with peers. Podcast lectures on Blackboard and weekly preparatory reading will provide a concise overview with explanation of the relevant theory or practice skills supported by appropriate experiential activities and technologies. Tutorial sessions will provide a space for facilitating group work activities and planning, a structured group work program. Student learning will be also supported through the use of the online Blackboard platform. Real world group and team applications are used to consolidate learning activities.

Assessment

This unit has two pieces of assessment. The first assessment item is formative and summative consisting of a group work simulation with individual reflective account. The second assessment piece is summative and involves the compilation of a professional plan for group and team practice by Week 13.Formative feedback and support will be provided to students throughout the semester in the design, implementation and evaluation of their group work simulation and individual submissions. Formative and summative feedback will be provided through verbal and written means.

Assessment name: Simulation
Description: Simulation with Reflective Account. Design a group work structured program replicating application in a specific human service work place setting and simulate one aspect of the program (Group work collaboration). Submission of an individual reflective account following simulation which is a critical analysis of the experiential activity and evaluation of students own learning (Individual work).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Throughout semester

Assessment name: Professional Plan
Description: Compiled documentation and write-up of the group work structured program and simulation including critical analysis of the design, planning and implementation of the program and relevance to real world professional practice.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

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

Set Text
Johnson, D.W., & Johnson, F.P. (2013). Joining together: Group theory and group skills (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Recommended Text
Zastrow, C. H. (2009). Social work with groups: A comprehensive workbook (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

Risk assessment statement

There are no particular risks associated with this unit. Students are expected to display integrity in participation in planned experiential activities.

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: 06-Feb-2013