Part 1 - Unit 7
Note: This is a smaller unit held on one page.
UNIT 7: LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- To provide an alternative means of learning.
- To provide a medium for self-expression.
- To provide an opportunity for participants to carry out basic explorations of local health issues and present their findings.
- To provide a group learning opportunity which supports the course content.
- To help members to develop more confidence in articulating ideas publicly.
- To experience the value of group support and solidarity.
UNIT 7: OUTLINE
1. Organisation of the Group Project. (Approx. 5 hours group time + extra research and preparation time as required; probably again about 5 hour
- Session 1 (Unit 2) - Introduction
- Session 2 (Unit 3) - Planning and Getting Started
- Session 3 (Unit 4) - Drafting Ideas / Research
- Session 4 (Unit 5) - Research / Working on Presentations
- Session 5 (Unit 6) - Working on Presentations / Planning Contributions
2. The Group Presentation (3-4 hrs)
Total time approx: 10 hours
UNIT 7: TUTOR NOTES
GENERAL
The Group Project is designed to be worked on over five sessions and is incorporated in Units 2-6. Some of the units contain a great deal of information and some tutors have found when running courses, that working on the ‘Group Project’ together can be a relaxing and creative way to end each session. Others have found that, due to time constraints, work on the Group Project cannot always be done in every session. It is recommended that participants do spend some extra time outwith the sessions in researching and preparing their material.
Spreading the project over a number of weeks gives the group time to plan their ideas, to gather material and to absorb some of the learning from the units. The learning logs are also useful in helping people to make links between different parts of the course and the Group Project. If you do wish to organise the Group Project differently, note that you will probably need a total of at least 8-10 hours for the work.
UNIT 7: DETAILED UNIT NOTES
THE GROUP PRESENTATION (3-4 hours)
1. Accommodation and Resources.
Checklist:
- Is your usual room big enough?
- Do you need to book another room in advance?
- Check any materials needed: wall space for displays/exhibition stands if wanted/small platform space/CD/DVD players/computers etc.
- Provide directions for invited guests.
- Arrange tea and coffee/refreshments.
2. Timing.
Allow plenty of time for finishing touches and last minute preparations - it will always seem a bit of a rush. Allow about 1 ½ hours before the presentation itself, and before the guests start arriving, for this preparation.
Allow time at the end, after the guests have gone, to reflect and review the experience and to celebrate what has been achieved. The whole session might need about 3-4 hours.
3. Organising the session.
It is important that each member is clear about what will happen. Being in a muddle will not help people’s confidence. A calm ‘rehearsal’, a week or two before, of who is doing what will give people some confidence, acknowledge that they might feel nervous and assure them that is a good thing! You will also need to clarify the details. For example:
- How will you deal with welcoming and introducing the guests and the course members?
- Will someone from the group introduce what they have all been doing and the different presentations, or will you do that?
4. Reflection
If appropriate, after the guests have gone and the flurry has died down, ask course members to spend 10-15 minutes writing some notes in today’s learning log, reflecting on this experience. How they felt, what they said, what they would like to have added, what they were pleased about saying, any of the guests comments etc.
Ask people to identify some key questions with which they may be left after exploring their topic or issues. What would they like to know more about? Who would be able to answer this? Any particular people they would like to question? Encourage each member of the group to work through this, as it may form the basis for their ‘Community Research Project’ in Part 2 of the course. Allow a final 20 minutes for general feedback from the whole group. This reflection can also be done at home or in the following session.
UNIT 7: LEARNING LOG
THE GROUP PRESENTATION
My thoughts about the Group Presentation
1. How I felt about doing it.
2. What I was pleased about.
3. Anything I would do differently next time?
4. Any new thoughts I had, or new learning for me today?
5. Questions that this has raised for me. Any particular person/organisation/ department who could give me the answers?