Course description

The course “Social, pedagogical and psychological work in the community” is focused on the formation of theoretical and methodological tools for the organization and implementation of social, pedagogical and psychological work with various categories of clients in the conditions of the territorial community. The course reveals the theoretical foundations of social, pedagogical and psychological work in the community; considers the community as the object of the social worker’s work; analyzes the models and methods of work of a social worker in the community and provides their substantive characteristics; determines the tasks and strategies of the social worker in the community; reveals the peculiarities of social work in local communities; reveals the psychological meaning of the community in the system of socio-psychological categories

Mastering this course should produce the ability to find, process, systematize and analyze information necessary for solving professional and scientific tasks in the field of social, pedagogical and psychological work in the community.

The aim of the course is for students to acquire knowledge of theoretical and applied aspects of social, pedagogical and psychological work at the community level.
Task:
1. Acquaintance of students with the retrospective development of social, psychological and pedagogical work in the community in foreign and domestic scientific discourse.
2. Students acquire knowledge about basic scientific approaches to organizing work with the community and basic, interdisciplinary models of social work at the community level.
3. Acquaintance of students with interdisciplinary multi-aspect multi-level analysis of social work methods at the community level.
4. Formation of professional competencies regarding the full cycle of case management in working with the community based on a sustainable systemic approach and socio-pedagogical and psychological knowledge.

Competencies and program learning outcomes (according to the educational program)

Integral competence:

IC The ability to solve complex specialized tasks and practical problems of professional activity, the learning process, which involves conducting research and applying certain theories, methods of social work, social-psychological rehabilitation, and scientific-research, scientific-pedagogical activity is characterized by the complexity and uncertainty of conditions and requirements.

General competences:

GC 1. Ability to abstract thinking, analysis and synthesis.

GC 6. The ability to show initiative and entrepreneurship.

GC 7. Ability to adapt and act in a new situation.

GC 8. The ability to generate new ideas (creativity).

GC 9. Skills of interpersonal interaction.

GC 10. Ability to work in a team.

Professional competences:

PC1. Ability to understand and use modern theories, methodologies and methods of social and other sciences, including methods of mathematical statistics and quantitative sociological methods, in relation to tasks of fundamental and applied research in the field of social work.

PC2. The ability to identify socially significant problems and factors for achieving social well-being of various population groups.

PC3. Ability to professionally diagnose, forecast, project and model social situations.

PC4. Ability to implement methods and technologies of innovative practice and management in the system of social work.

PC5. The ability to communicate with representatives of other professional groups of various levels (experts from other industries/types of economic activity), to establish interaction between state, public and commercial organizations on the basis of social partnership.

PC6. The ability to evaluate the process and result of professional activity and the quality of social services.

PC8. Ability for joint activity and group motivation, facilitation of group decision-making processes.

PC9. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and own conclusions to specialists and non-specialists.

PC10. The ability to show initiative and entrepreneurship to solve social problems through the implementation of social innovations

PC 18. The ability to understand and define the strategic goals of social development at the level of the community, the region, develop a strategic plan for the development of the community and promote the activation and consolidation of the efforts of community members to implement it.

Program learning outcomes:

PLO 1. Solve complex tasks and problems that require updating and integration of knowledge in conditions of incomplete/insufficient information and conflicting requirements.

PLO10. Analyze the social and individual context of the problems of the person, family, social group, community, formulate the purpose and tasks of social work, plan interventions in difficult and unpredictable circumstances in accordance with the values of social work.

PLO11. Organize the joint activities of specialists from various fields and non-professionals, prepare them to perform social work tasks, initiate team formation and coordinate team work.

PLO17. Independently build and maintain purposeful, professional relationships with a wide range of people, representatives of various communities and organizations, argue, convince, conduct constructive negotiations, productive conversations, discussions, be tolerant of alternative opinions.

PLO18. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards one’s profession and comply with the ethical principles and standards of social work with one’s behavior.

PLO19. To carry out social and psychological rehabilitation practices for vulnerable groups of clients, to organize the provision of complex assistance, support, and integration into society.

PLO20. Determine the strategic goals of the social development of the community, the region, develop a community development plan and apply methods and techniques of activation and consolidation of community members for its implementation.

PLO 21. To implement the results of scientific research in practical activities.

Keywords Community, territorial community, social work, pedagogical work, psychological work, provision of social services, community activation.

Prerequisites To study the course, students need basic knowledge of the disciplines “Management of social work”, “Non-state sector in the social sphere”, “Technologies of social design”, “Social technologies of community activation and development”.

Educational methods and techniques that will be used when teaching the course Explanatory-illustrative, research, search (heuristic), problem presentation educational material, interactive and methods of stimulating learning (conversation, brainstorming, discussion, work in pairs/groups, etc.), visual (presentations, demonstration of video materials), design (creating projects), work with educational and methodological literature.

Necessary equipment Multimedia projector, flip chart, markers, access to the Internet.

Academic Integrity: Project proposals prepared by Master’s students are expected to be a continuation of their practical work and to be original research or reasoning. Lack of references to used sources, fabrication of sources, plagiarism, unauthorized use of information from projects of other course participants are, but are not limited to, examples of possible academic dishonesty. The discovery of signs of academic dishonesty in a student’s work is a reason for its failure by the teacher, regardless of the scale of plagiarism or deception.

Attending classes is an important part of learning. All students are expected to attend all lectures and practical sessions of the course. Students must inform the teacher about the impossibility to attend classes. Students are required to adhere to all deadlines set for the completion of all types of work provided in the course.

Literature. All literature that students cannot find on their own will be provided by the teacher for educational purposes only, without the right to transfer it to third parties. Students are also encouraged to use other literature and sources that are not among the recommended ones.