This exam is the first CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) exam offered in a degree course in psychology in Urbino, and among the first in the entire University. The aim is to combine knowledge of the contents of Social Psychology on group dynamics with an approach to the understanding and use, both written and oral, of the English language in the scientific field. Specifically, the aim of the course is that students experience the use of the English language in understanding and transmitting contents of the psychological discipline and not learning the language per se, so any grammatical errors will not be corrected but the ability to transmit understandable information will be promoted.

Some topics of social psychology already addressed in the specific exam of Social Psychology (roles and status, norms, leadership, etc.) will be resumed and deepened and new topics of group dynamics will be presented, especially oriented to a practical application in training and management of groups (communication processes, conflict, power, etc.). The lessons will be in English, held both by the teacher and by teachers who collaborate with the teaching of English, Dr. Patricia Barzotti and Dr. Rowena Coles, who will hold specific exercise lessons with interactive teaching.

First week. Presentation of the course and examination methods. Introduction to group dynamics. Individual and group exercises on the concept of group.

Second week. Definitions and types of groups. Individual and group exercises on the different types of groups.

Third and fourth week. Stages of group development and steps in forming a group a group. Individual and group exercises on stages of group development and steps in forming a group a group.

Fifth week. Roles, status, and group norms. Individual and group exercises on role, status, and group norms.

Sixth week. Communication structures. Individual and group exercises on interpersonal communications.

Seventh week. Group conformity and group think. Individual and group exercises on group conformity and group think.

Eighth week. Leader and leadership. Individual and group exercises on leader and leadership.

Ninth week. Power and conflict. Individual and group exercises on power and conflict. General review and exam examples.

No propaedeuticity.

To pass the exam, students must:

a) Knowledge and understanding: Demonstrate having understood the main theories of the Social Psychology of groups and having understood the reference theories relating to group dynamics.

b) Applying knowledge and understanding: Demonstrate the ability to distinguish and identify the different theories useful for reading group dynamics

c) Making judgements: Demonstrate the ability to autonomously integrate one’s knowledge and to develop a critical spirit with respect to reading group dynamics.

d) Communication skills: Demonstrate the ability to present topics in English in a simple, but also clear and understandable way. Acquire the technical language of the discipline.

e) Learning skills: Demonstrate good autonomy in understanding group processes.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

• Slides of the lessons, articles, examples of exercises.
• Intensive language support will be offered to attending students by English language teachers who work in close collaboration with the course owner.

Teaching

Frontal teaching and interactive lessons in English with clarifications in Italian where necessary, group discussions, and applications to real life.

Innovative teaching methods

• Problem-based learning
• Learning by doing
• CLIL

Attendance

Participation in the lessons is highly recommended for the acquisition of both scientific and linguistic notions, as well as for the interactivity of the lessons.

Course books

• Haynes, N. M. (2012). Group Dynamics: Basics and Pragmatics for Practitioners. University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland.
• Moreland, R. L, & Levine, J. M. (1982). Socialization in Small Groups: Temporal Changes in Individual-Group Relations. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 15, 137-183 [the PDF of this article can be downloaded from Moodle > Blended Learning].
• The course slides will be made available on the Blended Learning platform and are an integral part of the exam material.

Recommended text for a consolidation of the English language:

• Catani E., & Coles R. (2006). A Companion to Scientific English. QuattroVenti, Urbino (only Part I Working on the grammar pp.11-57).

Assessment

The exam, which will be held in English, includes a written test (lasting 45 minutes) with open questions (two theoretical questions and one completion question) and an oral test. The ability to explain the concepts of social psychology in linear and understandable English will be evaluated. The evaluation criterion will not focus strictly on English grammar, but on the ability to express theories and concepts in an understandable way. The same criterion applies to the oral part of the exam. The ability to combine the theories studied with examples of reality and of one's daily life will be enhanced.

The final mark is expressed in thirtieths (mark range: from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 30 cum laude) and is determined by the following scale:

•     less than 18: insufficient level of competence.
•     18-20: sufficient level of competence.
•     21-23: fully sufficient level of competence.
•     24-26: good level of competence.
•     27-30: very good level of competence.
•     30 cum laude: excellent level of competence.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

• Self-study.
• Integrated digital teaching (uploading materials to Moodle > Blended Learning).

Attendance

Participation in the lessons is highly recommended for the acquisition of both scientific and linguistic notions, as well as for the interactivity of the lessons.

Course books

• Haynes, N. M. (2012). Group Dynamics: Basics and Pragmatics for Practitioners. University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland.
• Moreland, R. L, & Levine, J. M. (1982). Socialization in Small Groups: Temporal Changes in Individual-Group Relations. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 15, 137-183 [the PDF of this article can be downloaded from Moodle > Blended Learning].
• To allow non-attending students to compensate for what is done during the lectures by self-study, it is recommended that they make use of all the materials posted on the Moodle > Blended Learning platform (slides, tutorials, supplementary material) as they are beneficial for fully understanding the content of the program.

Recommended text for a consolidation of the English language:

• Catani E., & Coles R. (2006). A Companion to Scientific English. QuattroVenti, Urbino (only Part I Working on the grammar pp.11-57).

Assessment

The exam, which will be held in English, includes a written test (lasting 45 minutes) with open questions (two theoretical questions and one completion question) and an oral test. The ability to explain the concepts of social psychology in linear and understandable English will be evaluated. The evaluation criterion will not focus strictly on English grammar, but on the ability to express theories and concepts in an understandable way. The same criterion applies to the oral part of the exam. The ability to combine the theories studied

The final mark is expressed in thirtieths (mark range: from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 30 cum laude) and is determined by the following scale:

•     less than 18: insufficient level of competence.
•     18-20: sufficient level of competence.
•     21-23: fully sufficient level of competence.
•     24-26: good level of competence.
•     27-30: very good level of competence.
•     30 cum laude: excellent level of competence.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.