Millennial Students: A Course Design Logic Model Utilizing Group Work Skill Development

This is a descriptive study of an undergraduate practice skills course in groups development and facilitation in the discipline of social work. It illustrates a logic model basis of course design with an emphasis on the extant knowledge of the learning styles of students served. The seven characteristic traits of today’s Millennial Generation identified by Howe and Strauss (2000) are described in a contextual learning styles framework. The course design integrated these learning styles of the Millennial Generation into assignments applying group development skills, group facilitation skills, and the use of the classroom as a community consisting of several smaller teams working together in an interactive learning process. Instructors defined their overall teaching role as that of principal consultants, mentors, and coaches, matching teaching techniques, strategies, and specific tools to achieve the overall objective of engaging students fully in the learning process.