OVERVIEW

In the communication and participation era, everyone must know virtual groups dynamics  in order communcate and perform effectively in everydays life and at work. The distinction between groups "face to face" and "virtual groups" is now outdated: tgroups live both on and off the web, increasingly using the web to organize, produce, store and communicate.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module of the course aims at providing a basic knowledge in  social psychology, particularly focusing on social groups whose members interact in virtual contexts

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

Students completing the course have acquired the knowledge of both the language and the method of investigation of the social psychology of groups and know how to use this knowledge 1) to interpret virtual teams dynamics and 2) to design work in virtual groups appropriately defining: the objectives , roles and communication networks as well as communication tools and a suitable environment for the targets. This with the aim to design productive groups, capable of ensuring satisfaction and increased self-esteem for members.

TEACHING METHODS

Students work in groups. During each lesson they apporach case studies that that they analyze according to a pre-defined structure survey. By means of interaction tools,  groups share their analysis  followed by  teacher feedback that systematized according to the language and the disciplinary theories what produced by groups.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Studing groups:  the psycho-social approach
Group entities
Virtual groups
Computer Mediated Communication
The individual and the group
Group structure
Group processes
Communities of practice and learning groups on the net

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Learning materials provided by teacher
• Psicologia dei Gruppi, a cura di B.Bertani, M.Manetti, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2007

Suggested

• Insieme ma soli. Perché ci aspettiamo sempre più dalla tecnologia e sempre meno dagli altri -- Turkle Sherry
• I social network. Come internet cambia la comunicazione -- Cavallo Marino, Spadoni Federico
• Presi nella rete. La mente ai tempi del web -- Simone Raffaele
• Il disagio della simulazione --Turkle Sherry
• Demenza digitale. Come la nuova tecnologia ci rende stupidi -- Spitzer Manfred

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FABRIZIO BRACCO (President)

ANGELA MARIA SUGLIANO (President)

LESSONS

Class schedule

MODULE 2: VIRTUAL GROUPS

EXAMS

Exam schedule