COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES

Kurt M. Sussman

Course

Comm 328 Small Group Communication In Small Group Communication,

students study group communication concepts through the course text, lecture, and exercises, and apply these concepts in completing written assignments, group decision-making and group problem-solving projects.

Goals Learn to identify small groups, member roles, and

communication practices.

Learn small group theories and processes.

Learn small group problem solving practices.

Learn small group relational trust and diversity sensitivity.

Learn to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task.

Learn critical thinking and evaluation skills of assessment for small groups.

Objectives Demonstrate the ability to identify a small group, its member roles,

and communication methods.

Demonstrate knowledge of small group theories and processes.

Demonstrate knowledge of group problem solving practices.

Demonstrate a working knowledge of relational trust and diversity sensitivity.

Develop the ability to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task.

Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation skills of assessment through group interaction.

Learning Level

Learners in this course will be college students. As this is a third year course, most students will be at least sophomores, unless given special permission to enter the class. Students may be more mature learners, as these learners are often found in classes offered through alternative delivery mechanisms at our institution.

Learner Characteristics The students in this course will be a mixture of

students who have had online classes before, ones that have not, and others who have had alternate delivery structures such as weekender, summer session, and intersession courses. Most, if not all students will be familiar with the online environment as it pertains to the course management system, as it is mandatory at our institution that at least one assignment in every class be completed via the course management system.

Activity One- Group Identity In this activity students will collaborate

within their defined group to develop a group identity, a group logo, and a group slogan. The group identity will be a reflection of their group’s mission.

Activity One- Group IdentityDirections Students will be assigned to groups within

the course management system, where they will have access to communication software such as email and chat to contact their group members. Students will collaborate to determine meeting times, roles within the group, and agendas for the meetings. Students will collaborate to create a group identity, group slogan, and a group logo.

Activity One- Group IdentityObjectives The objectives for this activity are to

demonstrate a working knowledge of relational trust and diversity sensitivity; demonstrate knowledge of group problem solving practices, and to develop the ability to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task.

 

Timeline Students will have two weeks to collaborate and

produce the desired group activity materials.

Activity One- Group IdentityProcess for submission Students will produce a MS Word™ document with

their Group identity, slogan, and logo as well as a document detailing the process, communications, and contributions of the participants and submit through the assignment link in the course management system.

 

Assessment The activity will be assessed, and points awarded,

using the following rubric:Excellent Good Fair Poor

Group Communication 25 20 15 10Individual participation 25 20 15 10Group problem solving skills 25 20 15 10Quality of materials produced

25 20 15 10

Activity Two- Television Proposal

In this activity students will collaborate within their assigned groups to create a television show proposal.

Activity Two- Television Proposal

Directions Students will schedule meetings within their groups to develop

a television show proposal, complete with a description of the show, time slot that they propose, targeted network, competition on other networks, and potential marketing and sponsors.

 

Objectives The objectives for this activity are to demonstrate the ability to

identify a small group, its member roles, and communication methods; demonstrate knowledge of group problem solving practices, to develop the ability to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task and to demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation skills of assessment through group interaction.

Activity Two- Television Proposal

Timeline Students will have two weeks to collaborate

and produce the desired group activity materials.

 

Process for submission Students will collaborate to produce a MS

PowerPoint™ presentation outlining their proposal and will submit through the assignment link in the course management system.

Activity Two- Television Proposal

Assessment The activity will be assessed, and points

awarded, using the following rubric:

Excellent Good Fair PoorCompleteness ( all aspects represented)

25 20 15 10

Creativity 25 20 15 10Detail 25 20 15 10Overall quality and effectiveness of proposal

25 20 15 10

Activity Three- Case Study In this activity, students will collaborate

to analyze a case study of a contentious school board meeting and collaborate to develop a plan for resolution of the conflict, and will critique and make suggestions as to how the board and its members/roles could have worked more effectively.

Activity Three- Case StudyDirections Students will schedule meetings within their groups

to collaborate on a provided case study. The case study illustrates a school board meeting where difficulties arise making the board unable to function effectively as a group. The groups will then collaborate on a solution to offer for the school board’s problematic situation, and will offer an analysis and suggestions as to how the board could have worked more effectively and cohesively to solve their problem, based on Small Group Communication theory.

Activity Three- Case StudyObjectives The objectives for this activity are to demonstrate the

ability to identify a small group, its member roles, and communication methods; demonstrate knowledge of group problem solving practices; develop the ability to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task; demonstrate knowledge of small group theories and processes, and to demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation skills of assessment through group interaction.

 

Timeline Students will have two weeks to collaborate and produce

the desired group activity materials.

Activity Three- Case StudyProcess for submission Students will collaborate and submit their activity

as a MS Word™ document through the assignment link in the course management system.

Assessment The activity will be assessed, and points awarded,

using the following rubric:Excellent Good Fair Poor

Completeness ( all aspects represented)

25 20 15 10

Creativity 25 20 15 10Detail 25 20 15 10Overall quality and effectiveness of proposal

25 20 15 10

Activity Four- Activity Design At this point, the student working in

groups have had a significant amount of experience with online collaborative activities. In this activity, students will design a collaborative activity as a potential addition to this course for future students.

Activity Four- Activity DesignDirections Students will schedule meetings with

their group to collaborate on and propose a collaborative activity for future students of Small Group Communication Online. The proposal must contain goals, objectives, activity details, and assessment methods.

Activity Four- Activity DesignObjectives The objectives of this activity are to demonstrate

knowledge of small group theories and processes; demonstrate knowledge of group problem solving practices; develop the ability to work effectively within a group to produce a desired task and to demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation skills of assessment through group interaction.

 

Timeline Students will have two weeks to collaborate and

produce the desired group activity materials.

 

Activity Four- Activity DesignProcess for submission Students will collaborate and submit their activity

as a MS Word™ document through the assignment link in the course management system.

Assessment The activity will be assessed, and points awarded,

using the following rubric:

Excellent Good Fair PoorCompleteness ( all aspects represented)

25 20 15 10

Creativity 25 20 15 10Detail 25 20 15 10Overall quality and effectiveness of proposal

25 20 15 10