The first course in group work was taught in 1923 and was followed by a growing recognition in social work education of the importance of preparing students to work with groups. Unfortunately by the end of the 1970s group work located within a generalist curriculum had all but disappeared. This article presents a single course elective that…

In this article, the author presents the dangers in group work. He states that one common dilemma is when groups tend to come to agreement too quickly. Another dilemma is when the team is getting bogged down and becoming defensive or adversarial when members express new ideas or introduce new data. Finally, a very common danger is group members'…

This paper analyzes role transitions in small groups within the context of a more general model of group socialization that is based on the psychological processes of evaluation, commitment, and decision making. The major advantage of such an approach is that it specifies why role transitions in small groups occur. According to the model, groups…

Examines effective leadership strategies for promoting positive group experiences on outdoor trips by recognizing diversity and people's fears about diversity and by encouraging participants to express their perspectives and wants. Presents examples from Woodswomen, an adventure program that offers wilderness trips for women. (SV)

Describes a sixth-grade teacher's experiences in managing a student-centered classroom. The author describes her planning, the way in which she managed her initial disappointments and what she learned from them, and her ultimate success. (RJC)

Managing the psychological depth of responses to adventure activities calls for the leader to attend to own language and language of group participants. Describes eight levels of psychological depth occurring during group discussion and interaction. Addresses the need to stay at or above the agreed-upon level and avoid moving into psychotherapy.…

The Collaboration Model Project Council, at the University of Florida, represents an attempt to establish interinstitutional collaboration among (1) a university and two community colleges, (2) three county public school systems, (3) the teachers' associations of three counties, (4) community parents and citizens of three counties, and (5) college…

This report describes the links between group relations training, process consultancy, and psychoanalysis and relates these to the kinds of training which may be needed to develop consultation programs within an institution, specifically the Open University (OU) in England. A list of recommended readings and institutions which may provide training…

Discusses the advantages of group work in mathematics classes, and raises questions about appropriate assessment of such group work. (PK)

Describes an in-class exercise using students' discussion of their answers on a multiple choice test to demonstrate the powerful effects and pervasiveness of social influence. After a brief multiple choice test, students discuss their answers with their neighbors and then answer again. Similar response patterns emerge among the participants. (MJP)

A small residential center for boys with learning disabilities and/or emotional problems was the setting for an intensive six-week inservice program designed to provide the staff with a combination of tutorial and direct training. The training was subsequently integrated into a more formalized, comprehensive, and on-going program through a local…