Course description
This course introduces students to foundational theories and skills for working with a wide range of groups and communities in social work. Students will explore the role of group work in the pursuit of social justice and individual and community well-being. Intercultural skills and approaches that promote empowerment, equity, mutual aid and self-awareness will be examined. Students will identify group dynamics and practise strategies to overcome obstacles that commonly arise in groups. Students will apply the skills of group design, participation and facilitation, increasing their capacity to be effective group leaders and participants.
Course content
Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge and best practice. The following values and principles, consistent with professional standards, inform course content.
- The application of group work knowledge is essential in all areas of the social work profession, including in community organization and development, clinical practice, and policy-making and administrative contexts.
- A commitment to anti-oppressive, decolonizing and anti-racist practice is required to effectively lead social work groups.
- Self-awareness is a prerequisite for skilled leadership and participation in groups.
- Group work is a powerful medium for growth, change, learning and task accomplishment.
- Effective group leadership requires a balance of task and maintenance activity.
- All participants in a group have an opportunity and a responsibility to contribute to positive group outcomes.
Learning activities
Lecture
Presentation
Group discussion
Small group practice
Experiential learning
Means of assessment
Evaluations will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will include both formative and summative components. Instructors may use a student's record of attendance and/or active participation in a course as part of the student's graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
- Written papers
- Exams
- Presentations
- Participation
- Attendance
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe different types of social work groups and the situations and settings in which they are needed.
2. Apply group theory including group dynamics and the stages of group development to case examples and experiential group activities.
3. Reflect on the ways in which social location and behaviour impact group processes.
4. Demonstrate a range of skills to work effectively as a group participant and as a group leader.
5. Apply approaches that promote empowerment, equity, mutual aid and self-awareness when working in intercultural groups.
6. Employ strategies to manage obstacles to successful group processes and outcomes.
7. Identify strategies to evaluate group effectiveness.
Textbook materials
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts may include:
Corey, M., Corey, G. & Corey, C. (2017). Groups: Process and Practice (10th ed.). Boston: Brooks/Cole.