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

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

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)

Posthuma, Richard. 2014. Groups, teams and conflict management. International Journal of Conflict Management: Volume 25 Number 2. E-kirja.

Teaching methods

Webinars, independent studying, group assignments & contact sessions.

Exam schedules

Exam during the contact sessions on 17.12..2021
1st retake for the failed grade is in January 2022, week 3
2nd retake for the failed grade is in January 2022, week 4

International connections

Every academic year includes one implementation of the course in English, carried out with the name Activity Based Group Work, involving exchange students.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation of a course through the identification of previously acquired competence (AHOT) may be possible. This requires that you have planned and guided various goal-directed activity-based groups in the social and/or rehabilitation sector for at least six months. In addition, you need to have a previous bachelor's degree from the social and/or rehabilitation sector where you have been trained to lead activity-based groups. Partly accreditation can be given if you have experience of leading and instructing activity-based groups for at least six months and you have vocational training education to do that from the social-, health-, education-, instructing- and/or sports and leisure sector(s).

Student workload

Preparation for webinars and webinars 52 h = 2 ects
Contact days 16h + preparation for the contact days as well as preparing to the exam in contact day 27h = 1 ects
Group assignment 52h = 2 ects

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 goals and evaluating the accomplishment of set goals
During the contact day is carried out the exam based on the book: Stålberg, Leena. 2019. Pienryhmäohjaajan opas. PS- kustannus. nide tai e-kirja.
The exam is graded on a scale of passed to failed. Accepted limit is that 80% of answers are correct.
The peer review will take place during the contact days.
The group task is evaluated according to separate criteria on the scale Passed-Failed.