Opinto-opas

Objective

Students will know the theoretical foundations of empowerment and influence. In their work with clients, they will know how to use culturally sensitive socio-pedagogical means to strengthen the social inclusion of individuals and communities. Students will be able to use the tools of social influence and create citizenship-reinforcing inclusion and community. They will be able to express themselves in many ways and participate in social debate. Students will be aware of the impact of their own values on client work. They will recognise the significance of the exercise of power and ethical value conflicts in their work in the social services.
The students will understand the importance of professional and work ethics in social work, and be committed to the ethical principles of social work and act accordingly. They will be able to reflect on ethical challenges in light of their own values and for the development of their activities. Students will understand the importance of emotions in professional work and learn to deal with their own feelings reflectively. They will internalise the importance of professionalism in their interactions. Students will be able to anticipate and act in threatening client situations.

Content

Theories of Empowerment. Power and the exercise of power. The different channels of social influence. Civic ac-tion. Challenges to socio-pedagogical work in an increasingly multi-value society. Tension between the individual and society. Media education, media skills and social media. Language for a client-empowering approach.
Professional ethics in social services. Work ethics. International and national conventions and guidelines. Ethics of reporting in client work. Self-reflection of activities and choices from an ethical point of view. The significance and handling emotions in ethically challenging situations.
Limiting of the right to self-determination. Interaction in threatening customer situations. Anticipating threatening situations, and examination of one’s own courses of action. Aggressive client situations.
Responsibility in taking care of one’s own workplace wellbeing.
The study unit includes four hours of guidance for professional growth.

Location and time

Autumn 2019 - period 1-2
Myllypuro Campus

Materials

Literature for the EXAM:
Empowerment:
Understanding and Operationalising Empowerment. Cecilia Luttrell and Sitna Quiroz with Claire Scrutton and Kate Bird. ODI Working Paper 308
Ethics:
Ethics in Social Work - An Ethical Code For Social Work Professionals. Akademiker förbundet SSRA) Bonnie Steinbock: Adultery. 1986
Russ Shafer-Landau: Fundamentals of Ethics. 2010 Ch. Introduction, Ch.19: Ethical relativism, Ch.20: Moral Nihilism, Ch.21:Ten Arguments Against Moral Objectivity
Choose one of the following articles:
A) Bonnie Steinbock: Adultery. 1986
B) Michael Huemer: America's Unjust Drug War. 2004
C) Hugh LaFollette: Licencing Parents. 1980
Client Situations>
Social Psychology of Aggression
Media and Critical Thinking;
Normand Baillargeon: A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defence: Ch. 4 Media
T. Edward Damer: Attacking Faulty Reasining, ch. 1 - 4
NOTE! Students should read the exam material before the course starts.

Teaching methods

Contact teaching
Literature
Guidance and project
Self-directed learning
Seminar

Exam schedules

To Be Announced

Student workload

27 hours per credit

Content scheduling

Tentative Schedule (changes may occur)
28.08.2019 16.00 -17.30 MPA1010 No Labels No Walls - Screening of "Belonging in the USA"
02.09.2019 10.00 - 12.00 MPA5020 Orientation
03.09.2019 08.30 - 11.45 MPA5025 Ethics
03.09.2019 12.45 - 16.00 MPA5020 Construction of Empowerment
06.09.2019 12.45 - 16.00 MPA5020 Dimensions of Empowerment
10.09.2019 08.30 - 11.45 MPA5023 Ethics
10.09.2019 12.45 - 16.00 MPA5023 Empowerment and the Power Cube
11.09.2019 08.30 - 11.45 MPA5020 Ethics
12.09.2019 08.30 - 11.45 MPA5020 Ethics
16.09.2019 09.00 - 11.45 MPA5015 Threatening Client Situations
18.09.2019 10.00 - 11.30 MPA4077 Proj Supv LA
20.09.2019 09.00 - 12.00 MPA5019 EXAM
23.09.2019 09.00 - 16.00 No Labels No Walls - Sosiocultural Animation & Empowerment
02.10.2019 13.00 – 14.30 MPA4077 Proj Supv LA
09.10.2019 12.00 – 16.00 MPA5023 Professional Growth
28.10.2019 12.45 - 16.00 MPA50233 Final Project Presentations

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessment:
Assessment criteria as the attachment of the curriculum.
The teacher of the study unit informs the assessment criterias in the beginning of the study unit.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Assessment:
Assessment criteria see the attachment.
The teacher of the study unit informs the assessment criterias in the beginning of the study unit.

Assessment methods and criteria

Active participation in the course, passing exam (0-5) and a project report plus presentation (0-5).
80% attendance in contact teaching and project work is required. The project groups assess the activity of group members in their final report.