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Group work: Pleasure or pain? An effective guidance activity or a poor substitute for one-to-one interactions with young people?

  • Jane Westergaard
Article
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Abstract

This paper defines the concept of personal learning and development (PLD) group work as a guidance activity in both career counselling and youth support practice. It introduces the FAAST model—a framework for planning, preparing and delivering PLD group sessions (Westergaard in Effective group work with young people. Open University, Maidenhead, 2009). The paper goes on to present a research project exploring PLD group work. Key findings are shared at the initial stages of the study related to the efficacy of PLD group work and the use of the FAAST model in the planning, preparation and delivery of group sessions.

Keywords

Personal learning Development Groups 

Résumé

Travail de groupe: Plaisir ou douleur? Une activité d’orientation efficace ou un maigre substitut aux interventions en individuel avec les jeunes? Cet article définit le concept de groupe de travail “pour l’apprentissage et le développement personnel” (ADP—PLD en anglais) comme une activité d’orientation tant dans les pratiques d’orientation professionnelle que dans celles de soutien aux jeunes. Le modèle FAAST est introduit comme un cadre pour la planification, la préparation et la réalisation de séances de groupe pour le ADP (Westergaard in Effective group work with young people. Open University, Maidenhead, 2009). L’article présente ensuite un projet de recherche explorant le travail de groupe ADP. Les principaux résultats sont partagés aux commencements de l’étude, concernant l’efficacité du travail de groupe ADP (pour le PLD), et de l’utilisation du modèle FAAST pour la planification, la préparation et la réalisation des séances de groupe.

Zusammenfassung

Gruppenarbeit: Vergnügen oder Qual? Eine effektive Beratungsaktivität oder ein dürftiger Ersatz für Einzelinterventionen mit Jugendlichen? Dieser Artikel definiert das Konzept der Persönlichen Lernen und Entwicklung Gruppensitzung (“PLD group sessions” PLD) als ein Instrument für die Berufsberatung und allgemeine Unterstützung von Jugendlichen. Der Artikel führt das FAAST-Modell ein, ein Gerüst für die Vorbereitung und Durchführung von Gruppensitzungen (Westergaard in Effective group work with young people. Open University, Maidenhead, 2009). Weiter stellt der Artikel ein Forschungsprojekt zur PLD Gruppenarbeit vor. Die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse der Anfangsphase der Untersuchung bezüglich der Effektivität der PLD Gruppenarbeit und der Benützung des FAAST-Modells bei der Planung, Vorbereitung und Durchführung von Gruppensitzungen werden präsentiert.

Resumen

El trabajo de grupo: ¿Placer o dolor? ¿Una actividad de orientación efectiva o un mero substituto para las intervenciones individuales con los jóvenes? Este artículo define el concepto de trabajo en grupo sobre el desarrollo y aprendizaje personal (PLD) como una actividad de orientación en asesoramiento profesional así como en las prácticas de apoyo a jóvenes. Presenta el modelo FAAST- un marco para la planificación, preparación y puesta en marcha de sesiones de grupo PLD (Westergaard in Effective group work with young people. Open University, Maidenhead, 2009). A continuación, se presenta un proyecto de investigación sobre trabajo en grupo PLD. Se exponen los principales resultados del estudio, en las fases inicial del mismo, sobre la eficacia de las sesiones de grupo PLD y del uso del modelo FAAST en la planificación, preparación y puesta en marcha de las sesiones de grupo.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.CCPDCanterbury Christ Church UniversityChatham MaritimeUK

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