COM 353 - Small Group Syllabus - Spring 2014

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COM 353 Where to find it... IMPORTANT: Required Text: Five Dysfunctions of a team is required. It is available at the CMU Bookstore and SBX and Amazon.com. Have it before the second week of class. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $15-$20. Required for Each Class: A writing utensil, notepad, and binder to hold all the handouts and notes. Laptops are allowed for note taking if do not get too distracted. NOTE: HW IS DUE EVERY CLASS (with the exception on days with presentations and exams) 1. Work in groups as an effective system with clear goals, and concrete direction. 2. Motivate teammates to work passionately through effective leadership. 3. Address and resolve conflict in an appropriate and positive manner. 4. Create innovative solutions using creative problem solving. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” ~Michael Jordan Contact Info Grading Structure Classroom Participation Common Behaviors To avoid FAQ’s Tips for Success 1 2 2 3 4 4 S all Group Communication TR 9:30-1045 AM CRN: 22242856 MOORE 212 TR 330-445 PM CRN: 22242857 MOORE 206 Instructor: Adam Barragato (left) Office: Moore 221E (Moore Second Floor, across from men’s bathroom) Office Hours: MWF: 12-1 TR 11-12 OR BY APPT. Page 1 Required Texbook: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (BELOW). E-mail: [email protected] (I will respond within 24 hours unless you e-mail me on Saturday night/Sunday. In those cases I may not respond until Monday morning). We will learn HOW to appreciate... Listening Conflict Resolution Cooperation As a result... We will learn how to properly address the common individual behaviors among teams that cause dysfunction. COURSE OBJECTIVES

description

Please read this syllabus before class so that you can understand what to expect in this class. Also, there will be a short quiz on this the second day that we meet. E-mail Adam Barragato @ [email protected] if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting you!

Transcript of COM 353 - Small Group Syllabus - Spring 2014

Page 1: COM 353 - Small Group Syllabus - Spring 2014

COM

353

Where to find it...

IMPORTANT:Required Text: Five Dysfunctions of a team is required. It is available at the CMU Bookstore and SBX and Amazon.com. Have it before the second week of class. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $15-$20.Required for Each Class: A writing utensil, notepad, and binder to hold all the handouts and notes. Laptops are allowed for note taking if do not get too distracted.

NOTE: HW IS DUE EVERY CLASS (with the exception on days with presentations and exams)

1. Work in groups as an effective system with clear goals, and concrete direction.

2. Motivate teammates to work passionately through effective leadership.

3. Address and resolve conflict in an appropriate and positive manner.

4. Create innovative solutions using creative problemsolving.

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence

wins championships.” ~Michael Jordan

Contact Info

Grading Structure

Classroom Participation

Common BehaviorsTo avoid

FAQ’s

Tips for Success

1

2

2

3

4

4

S all Group CommunicationTR 9:30-1045 AM CRN: 22242856 MOORE 212TR 330-445 PM CRN: 22242857 MOORE 206

Instructor: Adam Barragato (left)

Office: Moore 221E (Moore Second Floor, across from men’s

bathroom)

Office Hours: MWF: 12-1 TR 11-12OR BY APPT.

Page 1

Required Texbook:The Five Dysfunctions of a

Team (BELOW).

E-mail: [email protected](I will respond within 24 hours unless you e-mail me on

Saturday night/Sunday. In those cases I may not respond until Monday morning).

We will learn HOW to appreciate...

ListeningConflict Resolution

CooperationAs a result...

We will learn how to properly address the common individual

behaviors among teams that cause dysfunction.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Page 2: COM 353 - Small Group Syllabus - Spring 2014

Does 99% of the work.

Te a m A s s i g n m e n t sExam 2: Conflict

Project 2: Problem Solving

Exam 1: Leadership

Project 1: Teams as Systems

NOTE: Team assignments (4 total) make up ~60% of your grade. Your ability to use the

information we discuss in your teams is imperative to your success in this class.

Objective: In the most creative ways possible demonstrate whether or not the team of your choice (fictional or non) is a goodsystem.

Exam: 40 points Acc. Report: 10 points

Total: 50 Points

Objective: Showcase newdevelopments in teamleadership in the mostcreative ways thatyou can think of.

Objective: Solve a problemon campus in the most innovative way.

Objective: Showcase conflictas something beneficialand applicable to teamsin a creative way.

Presentation: 40 points Acc. Report: 10 points

Total: 50 Points

Presentation: 75 points

Paper: 35 pointsAcc. Report: 10 points

Total: 120 points

Exam: 40 points

Acc Report: 10 points

Total: 50 Points

Individual AssignmentsFinal Exam ActivityHomeworks

1 Quiz Total @ 5 points

(a syllabus quiz on second day of

class = 5 points

Participation

You are allowed 2 absences for

EMERGENCIES or SICKNESS. Each

absence after 2 = 5 points lost out of

25 points total

15 HW’s Total @ 5 points each(al information

regarding HW’s is provided on blackboard)= 75 points

1 activity on “Final Examination Day” (See Schedule for

time/day) credit/no credit

= 15 points

Class Total: 440 Points

2 Individual Written papers

@ 25 points each

= 50 points

Papers

A (94-100%) B+ (87-89%) C+ (77-79%) D+ (67-69%) E (0-59%) A- (90-93%) B (83-86) C (73-76%) D (63-66%) B- (80-82%) C- (70-72%) D- (60-72%)

Wee

ks 6

-8

Wee

ks 2

-5

Wee

ks 1

0 -1

3

Wee

ks 1

4 -1

6

All information regarding Team Exams and Team

Projects are on blackboard

Syllabus Quiz

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What type of TEAM

member will you be in this

class?

LOAFER EVALUATOR/CRITIC ENERGIZERATTENDANCE: When you do show up, you’re rarely prepared and do not take notes.PARTICIPATION: You sit back and rarely participate with ques-tions and comments if at all.

ATTENDANCE: You show up prepared and ready to take notes some of the time.PARTICIPATION: You believe most of this is common sense, being critical/disen-gaged in class.

ATTENDANCE: You show up prepared, ready to take notes, and willing to learn.

PARTICIPATION: You are OPEN to new ideas and ALWAYS offer unique insight. You get a LOT out of this class.

(LEFT) Other than the fact all these characters make us laugh in the “The Hangover,” they also

share one more thing in common: They all took on poor team roles.

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“Great teams do not hold back with one another...They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.” ~Patrick Lencioni

(RIGHT) Please don’t engage in this type of thinking. “Delegating” parts of the project without any type of accountability or checkup can lead to

a disjointed or uncompleted project.

Does 99% of the work.

Has no idea what’s going on the entire time.

Say’s he going to help but doesn’t.

Disappears at the very begining and doesn’t show up until the end.

What do ALL THESE characters have in common?

Phil: (Left) stereotypical leader who does all the work and lets everyone slack off.

Alan: (Next to Phil) stereotypical “goofball” who is not taken seriously nor asks to be.

Stu: (Right of middle) takes on the paranoid worried about everything role.

Doug: (Left) I think it’s obvious here. You get it.

Sadly, both “memes” demonstrate NORMAL group thinking. This type of behavior, although “natural” to most of us, does NOT

produce quality work. The GOAL of this class is to help you find out how YOUR natural human behaviors ACTUALLY HINDER groups

from being successful and offer help to make changes.

Which scenario BEST

represents you In most of your classes?

?

(LEFT) How would you feel if you had to

work with people who looked at you like this everytime you met?

Exam: 40 points

Acc Report: 10 points

Total: 50 Points

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for Success

Q: What if I get STUCK with a BAD GROUP?”

A: It will be a terrific learning opportunity for you. Getting “stuck” in a bad group means that you will have to learn how to deal with difficult people in a learning environment. However, I am available to mediate groups that have more dysfunction than usual. Every team will have their own problems. The best way to deal with it is to keep me informed the moment there is a problem. Depending on the severity, I will talk with the individual or individu-als in question with the entire group present. Also, the “individual assessments” are a way to monitor whether or not your team members are pulling their weight.

Q: Why do we have homework?

A: There is LIMITED class time for me to explain all of the important information during class time. Therefore, in order to address all the important information in a significant way, you need to come prepared to class with a basic understanding of the material so we can immediately apply it and use it in your teams. It is Important to note that you do have to be present in class in order to earn credit for your HW.

Q: Why do I have to do homework BEFORE class?

A: Doing the homework BEFORE class helps me to understand what parts you were confused about so that I can go through them during class and offer help on understanding it. Also, it allows us to then apply the information that we do NOT under-stand. My hope is that having the homework done ahead of time helps us learn more content in class and be more productive with our time together.

SHOW UP!You are allowed to miss TWO days without losing points. I do not accept doctor’s notes as excused absences. Use your two absences for sick days. Remember, your group needs you.Let them know when you cannot make it.

OFFICE HOURS VS. E-MAILI prefer face-to-face conversations instead of e-mail, especially for difficult questions. I LOVE when students come to talk to me about their life, future career, or other classes. Appointments can be made upon request (outside of office hours). Either way, please don’t be a stranger. Come by regularly!

FORGET THE PASTEVERYONE has been in bad groups before. However, most of the reasons groups FAIL is because they never learn how to work as a TEAM. It is important that you do not fall victim to the same behaviors that you have exhib-ited in the past. However, in times of stress, it’s easy to go back to “old habits” (i.e. doing all the work yourself - see memes on next page). Please trust me. This is NOT a good idea. TALK TO ME IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

“Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires EFFORT and PRACTICE.” ~Douglas B. Reeves

CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in

class activities or meet course requirements should contact me (privately) immediately.