Overview

The revised second edition provides additional pedagogical tools and student-centred exercises. It discusses such issues as group member roles, establishing rules, goal setting, effective communication, dispute and problem resolution, and evaluation of group performance. Prepared by a professional trainer and professor, author Bruce Bjorkquist has 20 years of experience teaching group dynamics. The second edition is rich in practice exercises and in examples specific to the law enforcement students. This concise, student-friendly, text-workbook helps to develop the skills that provide a solid foundation for efficient and productive teamwork.

TopFeatures

• Presents content in a manner that is accessible to students using, a clear, practical guide style
• Discusses the essential concepts associated with interpersonal and group dynamics by focusing on the “need to knows” and avoiding the “nice to knows”
• Provides an experiential model and practical exercises designed to assist students in developing their interpersonal and group skills
• Appendix A describes the experiential learning model in detail; Appendix B provides experiential exercises for student teaching teams; the Instructor’s Guide provides further information on the experiential learning model and all resources necessary for the conduct of the experiential exercises in the text
• Although chapters are sequenced according to the author’s preferred order of study, their order may be changed at the discretion of the instructor
• Each chapter is supported by review questions and/or discussion questions that can be used to monitor students’ progress
• The text has been compiled in such a way that it can be completed during a one-semester course by following the learning outcomes prescribed
• Instructor's Resources
  • The Instructor’s Guide provides answers to all review and discussion questions, and includes a test bank of over 300 questions with answers

TopContent Summary

Preface
Acknowledgments

• Chapter 1: Member Roles: Participating Effectively in Your Group
• Chapter 2: Leader Roles: Leading Effectively in Your Group
• Chapter 3: Norms: Establishing Effective Rules in Your Group
• Chapter 4: Goals: Setting Clear Targets for Your Group
• Chapter 5: Messages: Communicating Effectively in Your Group
• Chapter 6: Conflict: Resolving Disputes in Your Group
• Chapter 7: Cohesion: Building Your Group into a Team
• Chapter 8: Critical Discussion: Generating Ideas in Your Group
• Chapter 9: Decisions: Solving Problems in Your Group
• Chapter 10: Evaluation: Improving Your Group’s Performance

Appendix A: The Experiential Model: Teaching and Learning Group Skills
Appendix B: The Experiential Exercises
Glossary
Index