This exercise is designed to (1) reveal where students are in regard to a specific group by interacting with a person from this group to learn the other’s perspective (2) illustrate the importance of clients as sources of knowledge and expertise around their own cultures, lives, experiences and (3) provide an opportunity to engage in knowledge gathering using an ethnographic framework and to assess the impact of this experience on students’ knowledge, attitude toward and future practice with this group and other groups. Students are required to write an 8–10- page paper and present their findings in the format identified by the instructor (oral, poster, or PowerPoint presentation).To learn about other groups (e.g.,different racial/ethnic groups, persons with mental illness, persons with physical disabilities, older adults, persons in the LGBTQ community, different religious groups, women receiving welfare, homeless men, drug addicted individuals). It is important to recognize what you already know or do not know and what you fear. This exercise is designed to reveal where you are in regard to a specific group by interacting with a person from this group to learn the other’s perspective, illustrate the importance of clients as sources of knowledge and expertise around their own cultures, lives, experiences and provide an opportunity to engage in knowledge gathering using an ethnographic framework and to assess the impact of this experience on your knowledge, attitude toward and future practice with this group and other groups different from yourself. 1.Select a group you wish to learn about (e.g., a racial/ethnic group, persons with mental illness, persons with physical disabilities, older adults, persons in the LGBTQ community, a religious group, women receiving welfare, homeless men, drug addicted individuals)2.Write what you do know, the prejudices you may hold, and any other information that forms your present understanding of the group. 3.Write three global questions that will serve to focus your inquiries about the group in an interview with a “guide” from this group. 4.Select a “guide” for your interview. 5.Conduct the interview using the global questions to elicit your guide’s knowledge of the views/experiences of thegroup.6.Write a summary of the interview using the words of the“guide”7.Write an evaluation of the impact of the interview process and the information learned on your attitudes, knowledge, and skill development as a culturally competent socialworker.8.Describe how the knowledge from this interview might influence your work (e.g.,assessment, beginning practice) with this population in the future. How will you use your critical thinking skills to “integrate” this new ethnographic knowledge into practice with future “similar” clients? Discuss this within the context of the “bigger picture” (e.g., published research on this population, established evidence-based practices, practice wisdom, community context etc.)
