Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
AS30184: Developing group leadership |
Credits: | 6 |
Level: | Honours |
Period: | This unit is available in... |
Semester 2 at Action on Addiction |
Assessment: | CW 75%, PR 25% |
Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
Requisites: | |
Description: | Aims: The unit aims to: * Enable students to build on their knowledge of group work and increase their skills; * Focus on increasing awareness of group process in various typical group situations, and developing understanding of the types of learning that can take place in groups; * Relate this awareness and understanding to models of counselling for substance use problems/addiction; * Enhance group leadership and educational skills will be enhanced through experiential work and practical exercises; * Require students to put their skills to use in the workplace and to reflect on the effectiveness of specific group interventions. Learning Outcomes: On completion of the unit the student should be able to: * Explain a rationale for group work in the addictions field. * Describe types of adult learning in groups and relate these to the goals of a range of group activities. * Describe Heron's six dimensions of facilitation and evaluate their own group work along these dimensions. * Demonstrate ability to plan, organise, structure, implement and evaluate appropriate group activities. * Reflect on the dynamics and power relations in groups. * Use facilitation skills to maximise the benefit of group work and reduce blocks to learning for clients with a range of cultural and psychosocial characteristics. Skills: Intellectual skills: * Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of research, and practice (T, A). * Critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data. (T, F, A). * Reflect on the appropriateness of theory, practice and outcomes (F). * Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Professional/Practical Skills: * Understand the application of relevant research findings in the workplace (F). * Apply counselling skills appropriately to facilitate clients' progress towards their goals. (T, A) * Reflect upon own academic and professional performance and take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development. (T, F, A) * Observe and evaluate own skills and those of others and give clear and appropriate feedback. (T, A) Key skills: * Exercise initiative and personal responsibility. (F). * Make decisions. (F). * Use oral, written and audiovisual communication skills. (F) * Demonstrate confidence in using IT for the access, creation and manipulation of information. (F). * Undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature. (F) Content: This unit concentrates on: * Different models of group work used in the field. * The relationship of these models to counselling approaches and to understandings of substance use problems/addictions. * The role of the facilitator in different types of group and a set of measurable dimensions to evaluate the role. * Power in the group: how to recognise power relations and create conditions conducive to the empowerment of individual group members. * The development of presentation skills, skills in the facilitation of group learning, and conflict resolution skills. * Observed skills practice, self-rated and rated by fellow students, in an appropriate experiential situation. * Reflecting on student's own experience of the group situation. |