Activity Based Group Work (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Objective

Purpose of this course
In this course you will learn how to plan and implement a goal directed group intervention that supports client´s participation of social and health care sector.

Competences
Promoting well-being and agency (common)
Competence in the occupational therapy process and clinical reasoning (occupational therapy)
Counselling competence (rehabilitation counselling)
Client work skills (social services)

Learning outcomes of the course

During this course you will learn how to work with clients in social-, health and rehabilitation sector enhancing well-being and agency. You will learn basic skills how to establish a goal directed, client centered partnership with a group of clients. You will know central principles of leading a group, that is: establishing a group, planning the group process, planning and leading a group session and using group dynamics and the stages of group process when leading a group in rehabilitation and social work. You will learn why and how to use occupation and creative activities as a vehicle of goal- directed group activity.

After this course you can develop your competency as group leader in practical situations of your own profession. You will be able to use creative and occupational activities when leading a group in rehabilitation and social work.

Content

The course focuses on the basic principles and practices how to plan, carry out and evaluate a goal directed client centered group in social- and rehabilitation sector. The course includes creative practical activities that can be used in order to reach individual goals of clients.

Materials

Cole, Mary. 2012 nide tai 2018 e-kirja. Group dynamics in occupational therapy: The theorethical bacis and practice application of group intervention.

Huhtinen-Hilden, Laura & Lamppu, Minna (toim.). 2018. Odottamattomia aarteita. Ilmaisua, leikillisyyttä ja luovaa toimintaa ryhmässä. Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu. SOSKU-esite_DIGI_2ndd.indd (theseus.fi)

Hämäläinen, T. & Savolainen, K. 2016. Toiminta kuntoutumisessa -päämäärä ja väline. Teoksessa Autti-Rämö, I., Salminen, A-L., Rajavaara, M., Ylinen, A. Kuntoutuminen. Duodecim. 2016.

Stålberg, Leena. 2019. Pienryhmäohjaajan opas. PS-kustannus.

Teaching methods

During the course you will study theories related to group facilitation and creative and functional methods in webinars (online learning), independently, in groups and in face-to-face teaching on campus (2 days).

The working methods of the course include independent study of theory based on the course materials, interactive webinars, workshops and experimentation of methods in contact days.

As a rule, participants come to the webinars prepared to study the theory under the guidance of the teacher and interactively through exercises and discussion.

During the course, students will work on an exercise in multidisciplinary teams. The assignment uses and applies the theory studied and the material from the professional field.

Creative methods will be studied independently by learning about different methods and experimenting with some methods under the guidance of teachers during contact days.

International connections

One activity per semester in English: Activity Based Group Work, involving exchange students.

Student workload

Preparation for webinars and webinars 52 h = 2op
Contact days 16h + preparation and assignment 27h = 1op
Group work 52h = 2op

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Passed

The student knows the basic principles of how to plan, carry out and evaluate a goal directed client centered group in social- and rehabilitation sector. The student can plan and carry out one group session taking into consideration group dynamics and group process.

The student has experienced creative activities and knows possibilities how to use creative activities when supporting client´s resources and rehabilitation.

Further information

Self-assessment: setting learning objectives and evaluating their achievement.

Exercise based on the following materials:
Lecture materials.
Ståhlberg, Leena. 2019. Small group facilitator's guide. Leena, Leena, Lena, Lea, Lea, Lea, Lea, Lea, Lea, Lea. Part 1. (available as e-book).
P.S. (PS). 2011. Group dynamics for teams. Los Angeles, CA: Sage 2011. 238-245, 252-253.

The peer assessment will be carried out on the second contact day.

The course can be approved through the Recognition of Prior Learning if you have designed and facilitated a range of functional and goal-oriented rehabilitation and social work groups for a client group for at least six months, and have been trained in these at the bachelor's level. Partial admission may be possible if you have experience in directing various types of goal-oriented functional groups for at least six months and have had vocational training in social, health, educational, guidance or physical education. The application for admission must be submitted to the teacher of the degree programme of the course at least one week before the start of the course so that the teacher can make a decision on admission before the start of the webinar. Once the course has started, applications for admission will no longer be processed.

The group assignment will be assessed according to separate criteria on a scale of pass to fail.