Internet Exercises

Activity 1: Motivation

Introduction:

The motivation to join a group doesn't just involve individuals suddenly deciding to join a group. Groups often use strategies to appeal to individuals to encourage them to join. You'll examine those appeals in this activity.

Instructions:

Go to your university's website. Look up the webpages for the different student groups on campus. For example, if you attend the University of South Alabama, you go to the main page and click on Student Services. Then click on Faculty/Student Organizations, a page that lists the organizations faculty members and students can join.

Choose at least five student organizations. Examine their websites (particularly mission statements, the description of the organization, and news about the organization), answering the questions listed below.

1. To what degree does the group encourage others to participate based on the group's membership? How does the group use words and images to make group members seem attractive to potential members?

2. To what degree does the group encourage others to participate based on the group's activities? How does the group use words and images to make the activities appealing to potential members?

3. To what degree does the group encourage others to participate based on the group's goals? How does the group use words and images to make the group's goals appealing to potential members?

4. To what degree does the group encourage others to participate based on people's need for affiliation? How does the group use words and images to suggest that this is a group that meets potential members' belonging or affiliation needs?

5. To what degree does the group encourage others to participate based on fulfilling needs outside the group (e.g., favorable to add to a student's résumé)? How does the group use words and images to suggest the fulfillment of these needs to potential members?

After you've reviewed all five websites, answer the questions below.

1. What strategies do you think were most effective in motivating students to join a group? Based on what you know about why people join groups, why are these strategies effective?

2. What have you learned from this activity that you can use in future group work?

Activity 2: Storytelling and Group Development

Introduction:

Stories, particularly those that recount a group's history, can tell us much about a group's development. In addition, group storytelling is part of the fantasy that group members engage in when interacting.

The "Stories of the Dreaming" website includes stories told by Indigenous Australians about Dreamtime (creation) and Dreaming (spirituality). In this activity, you'll examine some of these stories to learn more about the centrality of storytelling in group development.

Instructions:

Go to the "Stories of the Dreaming" website before watching, listening to, and/or reading any stories, review the introductory portions of the website, including the explanations of Dreaming and Dreamtime, the role of storytelling, custodianship, and sacred stories. Note that the site includes a glossary of words with which you're likely unfamiliar.

Watch, listen to, or read the Creation Story, both versions of why stories are told www.dreamtime.net.au/why2/ and www.dreamtime.net.au/why/, and one other story of your choice. Then answer the questions below.

1. What did you learn about the group's beginnings from the story? How does that information help you understand the group?

2. What values and beliefs can you identify that underlie the stories? Give specific examples from the stories to support your conclusions.

3. Two storytellers, Aunty Beryl Carmichael and Warren Foster, explain why stories are important. To what extent do you think these reasons are applicable to other groups? Give examples from your own group experiences.

4. Imagine that you were going to work in a small group with several Indigenous Australians. What have you learned about Indigenous Australians that would help you in the orientation phase of working in this group?

5. What do you think is the importance of storytelling in group development?

6. How can you apply what you've learned from this activity to future small group discussions?