Introduction to Social Work with Groups Faculty ... - Simmons College

example, you may use “a large teaching hospital in an urban area,” rather than referringby name to MGH or Brigham and Women’s Hospital, for example. You can refer to atherapeutic school in a suburb or Boston, or a community health center without using theactual name. You can refer to treatment or services that took place in October, 2010 bysaying that “client presented for help about eight years ago when client was around 10,”and omitting the year in which the work took place. Not adequately obscuring identifyinginformation is a violation of HIPAA and may directly impact your grade on anassignment.Please note that the syllabus is not a contract. The instructor reserves the right toalter the course requirements and/or assignments based on new materials, classdiscussions or other legitimate pedagogical objectives.AssignmentsThe assignments and their requirements are listed in the order that they are due.Assignment #1, Natural Group observation and reflection paper, due in the first class(Session #1). This paper should not exceed 2 pages.For 20 minutes, observe a natural group of choice. A natural group is defined as threeor more people who happen to be in the same place at the same time. You can observenatural groups anywhere. A family is not a group.For the reaction paper, consider and reflect upon the following:• What do you see when you observe this group? How and where do people sit?What do you notice about their non-verbal communication? Body language, etc.• How do the group members interact?• How do people relate to each other?• What about this group makes you curious?• What did you learn about this group?Assignment #2 Community-based group observation and reflection paper, due insession #3. This paper should not exceed 2 pages.Attend any community-based group of your choice. You must identify yourself as asocial work student. Not doing so violates the NASW Code of Ethics as you may beseen to be representing yourself as a consumer and not a student. You may locategroups on-line and in the newspaper. Please be sure not to attempt to attempt a closedgroup, as you will be asked to leave. Please address consider the following in yourwritten discussion:• What did you observe about this group?• Describe the culture of the group? Did you note any rituals or traditions?• What was it like to locate and attend this group? What kinds of thoughts,feelings, and associations did you have when walking into the room andthroughout the meeting?• According to the literature, what type of group did you attend? Please cite thespecfic data source to support your ideas.Assignment #3. Evidence-Based Group Work Assignment