THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education and Sport : Education

Undergraduate Course: Community Learning 2: Working with Groups (EDUA08122)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education and Sport CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis introductory level course covers working and learning in groups. It will focus mainly on self-directed groupwork in the context of informal educational practice, although core ideas and processes are applicable in a wide range of situations including, for example, school settings, social care and social work.
Course description This introductory level course covers an introduction to community development as a dialogic practice. It will focus on key theories of dialogue and their application in community development settings. We will explore five key theorists to help us unpack the potential of dialogue in community development practice: Gadamer, Buber, Bohm, Freire and Bakhtin.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 163 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Formative Assessment
Feedback on summative assessments (see below) will also serve as formative feedback on this course.

Summative Assessment:
Blog 1 (500 word) - 25% of the overall mark
Blog 2 (500 word) - 25% of the overall mark
Blog 3 (500 word) - 25% of the overall mark
Blog 4 (500 word) - 25% of the overall mark


Feedback Students will work in case study groups each week to develop their strategies this way they will receive peer and tutor feedback on an on-going basis. The group presentations given in advance of the essay submission will also receive peer and tutor feedback.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Articulate key values underpinning community development dialogue work with groups
  2. Demonstrate familiarity with the basics of community development dialogue theories such as those developed by Gadamer, Buber, Bohm, Freire and Bakhtin
  3. Explain the concept of community as an ethical space and collective practice
  4. Explain basic approaches to working with groups to facilitate dialogue
  5. Explain the significance for learning of the relationship between the individual and their wider social context
Reading List
Cohen, M.B. & Mullender, A. (2006) The Personal in the Political: Exploring the Group Work Continuum from Individual to Social Change Goals, Social Work with Groups, 28:3-4, 187-204.

Doel, M. (2006) Using Groupwork, London: Routledge / Community Care, 180pp.

Freire, P (1972) Pedagogy of the Oppressed. London: Penguin.

Jaques, D. & Salmon, G. (2007) Learning in Groups: A Handbook for face-to-face and online environments, 4th Ed, London, Routledge, U

Johnson, D.W. & Johnson, F.P. (2013) Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11th edition. London: Pearson.

Kurland, R. & Salmon, R. (2006) Purpose: A Misunderstood and Misused Keystone of Group Work Practice, Social Work with Groups, 29:2-3, 105-120,

Mullender, A. & Ward, D. (2013) Empowerment in Action: Self-Directed Groupwork, London: Whiting and Birch.

Newman, M. (2006) Teaching Defiance: Stories and Strategies for Activist Educators. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Preston-Shoot, M, (2007) Types and Purposes of Groups: in, Preston-Shoot, M, Effective Groupwork pp.45-67, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Rogers, C. R. (1969) Freedom to Learn. Columbus, Ohio: Charles E. Merril Publishing Company.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1) Apply Knowledge Skills and Understanding
Increased awareness of how groups work
Design a groupwork initiative
the ability to build trusting relationships as a foundation for learning
an understanding of their own approaches to learning
Capacity to build practice on an understanding of issues of power, empowerment and the complexity of voluntary relationships

2) Generic Cognitive Skills
Understand the principles and practice of groupwork
Ability to reflect on their own and others' value systems and the ability to explore such values in informal contexts, including ability to constructively challenge the views of others and resolve conflict

3) Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others
Analysis of personal performance in groups
Leadership skills
Ability to work on their own initiative and in cooperation with others
KeywordsGroupwork,Groupwork leadership,Communication in groups,Listening in groupwork
Contacts
Course organiserDr Sarah Ward
Tel: (0131 6)51 6120
Email: Sarah.Ward@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Eleanor Terry
Tel: (0131 6)51 6812
Email: eterry@ed.ac.uk
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