Educating for Effective Group Work Practice in Multicultural Environments of the 1990s

Abstract

The growth of ethnicity as a social force continues to provide an impetus for group work faculty to educate for culture competence in group work practice. This paper presents an instructional approach that helps students learn how to work with ethnic diversities in groups, and integrates cultural considerations into the essential content of group work syllabus. Pedagogical issues and classroom process are described, as are the complex instructional roles and educational functions involved. Opportunities for creative linkage of core group work content to an ethnocultural perspective of group practice are highlighted. Implications are drawn for educational preparation for effective group work practice in multicultural environments.