1. Your group will review a major communication concept and
apply it to examples that you identify from video sources. You will give a
30 minute presentation to the class which illustrates the concept by pointing
out examples and explaining them with the relevant literature findings.
2. The major project for the term is the completion of a "socially
significant project." The socially significant project is designed to
provide you with the experience of working in a real group, complete with
committment, real outcomes, and the possibility of conflict and indecision.
I assume that each set of 4 students taken at random from class should have
approximately the same characteristics in terms of education, intelligence,
and motivation. I expect that the group inputs, at least from a personnel
standpoint, are fairly constant for every class group. This means, then, that
the outcome of the group project is based on your group's ability to reflect
on its own communication and to structure its communication so that and an
optimal solution will result.
At the heart of group success will be working to define "socially
significant," both in terms of group outcomes and what you learn from
that experience. As you carry out the project you will make weekly assessments
of your group and include these assessments with analyses in both a final
group report to the class and a group (10 page) paper. The final report will
be judged in terms of:
A. The chosen project, including rationale for it;
B.the success of the project;
C. the overall analysis of the group process; and,
D. a discussion of the things that would have improved the group
experience.
Items C and D will form the major sections of the report. Your
group grade will be given by the professor, but each member of the group will
evaluate every other member and the overall group grade will be averaged with
an individual grade.
3. Diary: Part of your grade will be based on your evaluation
of the variables that influenced interaction in the group. Diaries will be
collected early in the term and will be handed in with the final report
and from time to time during the term.
Attendance
Since you will be working in groups, and all members must participate
to make it a meaningful group experience, attendance is extremely important.
The absence of one person can dramatically affect group decision making. As
such, more than two absences will result in a significant lowering
of your final grade. There will be no make-ups for missed presentations, no
late papers, and no late assignments. If you are going to be absent, you must
notify your group members PRIOR to the absence.
Exams
There are two exams that are multiple-hoice and essay exams over the lecture,
readings, and discussions. The final exam is given according to the university
schedule for final exams. There are no exceptions!
Grades
Concept Assignment 1 = 15%
Socially Significant Project
= 40 %
Exams, each = 20%, 40% total
Attendance/Participation=
5%
Schedule and Readings
| I |
Defining Groups, Teams, Types of Groups |
Ch.1 |
| II |
Group Socialization: Group Syntality
Group Formation |
Ch. 2 |
| III |
Peersonality Traits and membership communication: Presentation Design |
Ch. 3; Appendix B |
| IV |
Structure; Culture |
Ch. 4 |
| V |
Models; characteristics; decision making. |
Ch. 5, 6, 7 |
| VI |
Socially significant projects; Exam I |
|
| VII |
Roles; Leasership |
Ch.8, 9 |
| VIII |
Relational Communication; Conflict ; Climate |
Ch. 10, 11, 12 |
| IX |
Group presenation techniques and organization --Presentations |
Appendix B |
| X |
Group Presentations |
|
| |
|
|
| Final Exam Week |
Final Exam -- |
|
| |
|
|
last updated: .2012
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