Course & Student Objectives

• Describe multiple theories about group formation, interaction, and communication. 

• Use problem-solving approaches and discussion strategies to work effectively with a group. 

• Recognize and competently perform various task and social roles when working with a group. 

• Collaborate with group members to create and maintain a supportive, culturally sensitive climate for group discussion. 

• Identify and use effective conflict management techniques to deal with difficult group members and complex situations.

• Explain how effective leadership behaviors are used when working with a group. 

• Identify your personal strengths and plan strategies to improve your effectiveness as a group member. 

• Illustrate the skills involved in meeting planning, facilitation, and participation.

General Education Outcomes

Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Critical Thinking Skills

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences.

Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices, (12th Ed.) by Beebe & Masterson, 2020; Pearson Education.

Other readings posted in Blackboard.

Netiquette Guidelines

In order to ensure a positive learning experience for all, please adhere to the prescribed guidelines during our synchronous class meetings. This assignment is not optional. Failure to submit the document by the deadline results in being dropped from the course.

Syllabus Quiz – 10 points

To ensure that you are well-acquainted with the course structure, expectations, and policies, you will take an online quiz after reading the syllabus and watching the Course Orientation video. This quiz is not optional. Failure to complete the quiz by the deadline results in being dropped from the course. Please see the “Syllabus Quiz Guidelines” document posted in Blackboard for more information.

Group Contract – 35 points

Your group will create a set of rules that each member will follow throughout the semester. The purpose of this assignment is to orient group members to each other while empowering groups to govern themselves according to their needs.

Group Identity Presentation – 50 points

The purpose of this assignment is to allow group members to collaborate through a creative exercise and establish a “culture” in the group with which all members should be able to identify. Each group will create a unique identity and record a presentation.

The Well-Constructed Agenda – 75 points

An agenda is the single most effective way to introduce structure into a meeting to maintain task focus. The result of your discussions will be an agenda that is properly arranged according to the “bell-curve” format and includes a rationale for the placement of each item and discussion questions.

Group Problem-Solving Experience – 90 points

Your group will engage in a virtual, synchronous problem-solving session. A topic, research, and criteria for an effective solution to a social problem or issue will be provided and your group will have 30 minutes to create an original slogan that will serve as the basis of an ad campaign.

Consultant Project – 150 points

You will observe a problem-solving group to identify various dimensions of group communication and critique their effectiveness. The final product will be an evaluation of their effectiveness and your suggestions about improving their process, supported with appropriate research.

Chapter Quizzes

Ten quizzes – 10 points each

You will take ten quizzes based on specific chapters in the textbook and covered in the online modules.  Quizzes are comprised of multiple-choice items. Please see the “Policy for Missed Quizzes and Exams” below and the video explanation of the quiz procedure in Blackboard for more information. Quizzes are NOT open book or open note.

Exams

Two exams – 120 points each

You will take two exams based upon assigned reading, content videos, and posted activities. Each exam is comprised of multiple-choice and true/false items. Please see the “Policy for Missed Quizzes and Exams” below and the video explanation of the exam procedure in Blackboard for more information. Exams are NOT open book or open note.

Course Assignment and Point Values

Grading Schema

To calculate your final grade:

          1. Add up all points listed in your Blackboard gradebook

          2. See the table above to find where you fall on the scale

Unit 1

Week 1

Feb 13 – 19

Week 2

Feb 20 – 26

Week 3

Feb 27 – March 5

Week 4

March 6 – 12

Week 5

March 20 – 26

Week 6

March 27 – April 2

Week 7

April 3 – 9

Week 8

April 10 – 16

Week 9

April 17 – 23

Week 10

April 24 – 30

Week 11

May 1 – 7

Week 12

May 8 – 14

Missed Quizzes and Exams

Each quiz and exam must be completed before the deadline (see Weekly Schedule). A missed quiz or exam cannot be made up.

Late Work

Late assignments will NOT be accepted for any reason.

Assignments and presentations are due before 11:59pm on the dates specified in the Weekly Schedule and cannot be made up. All work must be typed and turned in through Blackboard as a Word document.

Expectations

I expect students to adhere to the policies described in the syllabus. I expect that excellent work will be turned in at all times. To meet these expectations, you must:

• Prepare assignments in advance
• Adhere to the assignment guidelines
• Seek feedback from me before turning in an assignment
• Show concern for your grade now, not later
• Meet with me if you have concerns about your grade or the class

Instructor ACC Incomplete Policy Statement

An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester. Incompletes are reserved specifically for extreme situations and documentation must be provided.

Recording Policy

To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section.  Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through Blackboard Collaborate or another platform.  Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity.  Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

Course Evaluations

All course evaluations will be completed online.  Students may access the course evaluation when released by the college in the “Tools” section of their Blackboard course.

ACC’s General Withdrawal Policy

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about

course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.” Access the ACC Withdrawals webpage for more information.

Instructor Withdrawal Policy

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course by the official withdrawal date (see Academic Calendar) if personal circumstances prevent progress. Thus, if you stop attending class and do not officially withdrawal through the registrar’s office you will receive an “F” as your final grade.

I reserve the right to withdraw any student from the course for lack of attendance, lack of progress, disrespectful behavior in the classroom or via e-mail, unauthorized use of technology in the classroom, disruptive behavior, studying other course materials or use of vulgar language as defined by the instructor.