CMUN 10: Small Group Communication, Section #4201

Gavilan College, Spring Semester 2008

Instructor:  Shelley Giacalone, Communication Studies Department

Course Information: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:10-9:30AM, Room PB 1

Email: sgiacalone@gavilan.edu

Phone: 408-848-4800 Ext 5125

Office Location: PB 2 G

Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:15AM-12:45PM

Tuesdays 11:15AM-12:45PM

Thursdays 11:15AM-12:15PM

Course Description

This is a general education course that will help you better understand how effective small groups communicate and operate. This course will provide you with the understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively in any group. The majority of the work will be done in groups throughout the semester; time both inside and outside of class is required. Concepts such as group development and cooperative climates, active listening, leadership skills, conflict management, power, synergy, roles, decision-making and problem-solving will be studied and practiced throughout the semester.

Course Materials Required

Rothwell, J.D. (2007). In Mixed Company (6th Ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand and apply the dimensions of small group communication processes and theories through experiential learning
• Practice active listening and cooperative communication skills
• Effectively participate in team building and in other group efforts to problem-solve and make decisions
• Learn how to effectively participate in a small group that involves goals setting, planning and completing a project that benefits the community and/or campus
• Design, coordinate and facilitate meetings, including the preparation of agendas and minutes
• Analyze and effectively apply conflict management and leadership skills and promote cohesion among group members
• Recognize and understand the benefits of working in a group

Advisory: Eligible for English 250 and English 260.

Transferable: CSU; UC; CSU-GE: A1; IGETC: 1C; GAV-GE: A1; CAN: SPCH 10

Instructor’s Teaching Style:

This class is designed as a skill-building small group communication education workshop. As the facilitator of this course, I will be using a variety of teaching methods such as: large group discussions, small group discussions, film analyses, role play scenarios, individual and group writing assignments, and much more! Your active participation in this course is essential if you want to pass. Please come to class with an open mind and a willingness to take risks each and every day.

Class Policies

Attendance, Lateness, and Participation:

• Small Group Communication is an intensive, skills-building class for most students—a class that involves and evolves from our collective discussions and risk-taking.  This means that it is in your best interest to attend and actively participate in each and every session. You must arrive on time and stay for the entire class.  However, should an emergency arise, please do everything in your power to contact me prior to missing class so that we might try to make alternative arrangements.

• In accordance with the Gavilan College attendance policy, you are allowed to miss one more class hour than the unit value for this course (this class is worth 3 units) before you may be dropped from this course without possibility of credit. This means that if you miss more than two class meetings, you may be dropped from the course.

• I will be taking attendance each class meeting and if you are late (arrive 10 minutes past the class meeting start time) to class 2 times, it counts as an absence.

Assignments:

• All assignments for this class should be turned in on time and in person to me on the specified due date. Please do not send assignments via email or place in other mailboxes on campus.
• Late Work Policy: No late work will be accepted.

Cell Phones/Electronics:

• In order to demonstrate respect for your classmates and your Instructor, please turn off your cell phones/electronics during class.
• If your cell phone rings/vibrates during class, you will lose 5 Participation Points AND you will have to bring snacks/drinks for the entire class the next class meeting date/time.
• No text messaging during class.

Accommodations:

• If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information you feel you should share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case this building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. You may also contact your counselor and/or the Disability Resource Center office.

Occupational/Vocational Students:

• Limited English language skills will not be a barrier to admittance and participation in this course.

Academic Integrity:

• Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at Gavilan College, and the Student Honesty Policy, requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. You should, therefore, submit your own, original work for this course.  I will uphold Gavilan’s policy on academic honesty.  Consequently, an instance of academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, cheating, taking credit for others’ work, submitting work for another course as work for this one, etc.) will likely result in disciplinary action which may include recommendation for dismissal and a failing course grade.

Respect:

• Group communication can be difficult and challenging for many students. Be patient with others in the class. If you cause a distraction because of whispering or talking or being otherwise unpleasant to the Instructor or any student, you will be dropped from the class. The sun shines brightly on those who are kind-hearted and nice to others.

Time Commitment:

• You will be required to meet outside of class for group meetings and assignments. Although you will have some time in class to work on assignments, additional meeting times will be needed. Please plan accordingly.

On Format

Please format all assignments as follows:  Typed or word-processed (using a dark ink) in MLA or APA citation style, double-spaced, 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides.  Be sure to include your name, as well as a title for the assignment. 

                                                                    Tentative Course Calendar

Course Points/Grades

Assignments:                                          Point Basis                                          Points Possible

Exams #1-3                                               Individual/Group                                   450

Mission Statement                                    Group                                                    25

Progress Report Presentations               Individual/Group                                    50

Service Learning Group Project              Group                                                    325

Participation/Attendance                          Individual                                              100

Individual Group Reflection Paper           Individual                                               50

TOTAL POINTS                                                                                                  1000

Grade Monitoring Form

Exams:               Exam #1                                                        _____  out of 150 points possible

                            Exam #2                                                        _____  out of 150 points possible

                            Exam #3                                                        _____  out of 150 points possible

Mission:              Mission Statement                                       _____  out of 25 points possible

Progress:         Progress Report Presentations                      _____  out of 50 points possible

Project:              Service Learning Project                             _____ out of 325 points possible

Participation:   Participation/Attendance                               _____ out of 100 points possible

Reflection:              Individual Group Reflection:                    _____ out of 50 points possible

Total:                                                                                           _____  out of 1000 points possible

Your final grade is based on the following point scale:

A =  1000-940 points              A- =  939-900 points                            B+ =  899-870 points

B =  869-840 points                B- =  839-800 points                            C+ =  799-770 points

C =  769-700 points                D = 700-600 points                              F =  599 and fewer points