Group Memo _ social problem excerise
SOWK 403 Social Problem Framing Exercise Online
Social Problem Assignment
Overview
This activity aims to help student groups in an undergraduate macro social work course understand what a social problem is, how to reimage issues that affect a group of people, research the magnitude of the problem, and develop a workable solution. It also gives students practice experience working in groups and using TEAMS demonstrating leadership skills as each collaborates on research and development of the social problem report.
Social Problem Exercise
Instructors Note: This assignment was designed for an online class to allow students to think critically about problems that affect people and give you, as an instructor, a creative way to offer students a "real world." practice group experience in an online program. It will allow them to collaborate and consult with the Librarians and the department chair on the department's needs. Additionally, it allows you as an instructor to observe group work and process their creative ideas with each group via chat, offering feedback through their collaborative writing and attending their meetings through TEAMS. As an instructor, you essentially become the manager overseeing their project.
Note: This assignment can be applied to face-to-face students creating in-class workgroups that meet weekly to discuss the assigned issue, share ideas with the entire class, and use you, the instructor, as a consultant.
TEAMS (or Google Drive): These program are use consistently in organizations with work groups, more so since the pandemic. By using these programs in your course it will allow students practice experience when collaborating on projects remotely. Managers also use it to oversee employees productivity. As the instructor, it will allow you to do the same and intervene when appropriate.
Review your learning platform options for external program connections. There are some that allows the instructor to connect their course to TEAMS or Google Drive.
For TEAMS or Google Drive: You would add the external program to your course according to your learning platform instructions. Then,
- set up channels of groups according to groups students selected making the private to each group.
- set up folders so they can keep their work (e.g., minutes, group recording, their paper to work collaboratively, etc.). It will also allow student to chat about their work, instead of their normal group chats created on their communication devices (telephone).
- Make a welcome announcement.
Communication | Work sharing platform: Students need access to TEAMS or Google Drive to store their assignments, chat, minutes collaborative writing, and hold and record meetings. Students meet weekly as they collaborate and work on the assignment to produce a 5-7 page report on their findings.
Group Contract: Students will develop a contract on participation for the work to be completed as well as develop a plan to solve problems as they arise. This will give you an opportunity to use the contract when intervene as an instructor.
Memo: In the fourth week of the semester, students will produce a memo reporting their progress. Note: Students should maintain minutes noting progress, conflicts, and concerns.
Assignment Completion Time | This assignment takes about six weeks to complete.
This activity aims to help student groups in an undergraduate macro social work course understand what a social problem is, how to reimage issues that affect a group of people, research the magnitude of the problem, and develop a workable solution. It also gives students practice experience working in groups and using TEAMS to hold meetings while collaborating on research.
Group Contract
Instructor Note: The purpose of this assignment or activity is to assist students in creating a group, establishing guidelines, and formulating a plan in case of issues. This enables students to apply their leadership and organizational abilities, as well as the problem-solving skills they have learned in their program.
Assignment due date: This assignment activity should be completed within the first two weeks of the semester when the social problem exercise is introduced.is introduced.
The goal of this activity is to assist students in creating their own groups, establishing participation rules, and devising strategies to address any potential issues that may arise while working on the social problem exercise.
Memo
Instructor Notes: The memo will give you an opportunity to see the progress made and engage with students as appropriate.
Description: Often, administrators, managers, and supervisors are required to update other individuals (i.e., staff, advisory boards, investors, clients, organization administrators, etc.) regarding the progress of projects. This is often done by circulating within the organization or emailing a memo. This assignment will allow the group to create a report as a memo to the instructor on the progress made on the social problem exercise.