Group Project Instructions - Step 1 and Step 2 - Step 3 and Step 4

1

Group Project Assignment Steps and Rubric in Document form

Notes: You must subscribe to the forum in order to be notified of when your group members post.

If someone doesn’t participate, and you or another group member has effectively communicated to that person the expectations and deadlines, and the person does not effectively communicate back, you are allowed to move on without them. However, you must be prepared to show the email or other attempt you made to communicate with that person to the instructor if you are challenged by the person who was left behind. The goal of this project is effective group communication.

You can find the Step-by-Step version of these instructions in the “Group Project Instructions” link in your Group Project menu link. All work will be posted in your Group’s Area, using the Group Discussion Board Tool and the Group Wiki Tool. To find your Group go to the Group Project Instructions link and click on the group link.

In Step 1, you will introduce yourself to your group members through a discussion of your feelings towards virtual group work, a leadership and follower profile, and a picture of yourself.  To prepare for this Step, read chapter 9.

1. First, read pages 245-248 about what a group is, and focus specifically on the section on Virtual Groups. Page 248 has five great communication tips to build an effective team online. You will comment on each one:

a. Encourage socializing : Tell your group about yourself briefly: likes, dislikes, schedule, important aspects of your life. (When you are done writing your paragraph, you will read your group members' paragraphs and comment on their Step 1 paragraphs to socialize with them!)

b. Strive for face time: Is there a time/day of the week you could possibly meet over skype/face time/chat? What are your preferences regarding this? (Note: this project is designed to be fully online—you are not required to meet in person)

c. Allow and encourage side channels: You might not ever end up meeting your group due to the online nature of this class, but discuss some possibilities. (i.e. could you talk on the phone, via text, on Facebook?) 

d. Make expectations clear: Are deadlines firm or negotiable? How close to the due date/time do you like to begin work? What is your expectations for what's acceptable?

e. Provide training as necessary: Not everyone has the same level of technological savvy. Having read the instructions for this assignment, do you have any questions about some of the tools on Blackboard you are being asked to use?

2. Then, take the Self-Assessment: Leadership Approach on page 262. Which orientation best describes your leadership style? Do you agree or disagree with the description? Highlight, bold, or underline the orientation term from the text.

3. Last, post your paragraphs in the Step 1 forum of your Group Discussion Board. Attach or insert a picture of yourself. DO NOT attach your written profile if you wrote it in a Word or other Document—copy and paste or directly type your paragraphs in for your group members to read. (Meaning, they shouldn't need to click on anything or download anything to read your profile).

As your group members’ posts appear, read their profiles and reply to their profiles by saying hello, or something you found interesting about them.

NOTE: You will need to post your profile about 24 hours (minimum) before the actual due time to allow your group members to comment back to you. Effective group communication begins with being considerate of other people's schedules. Beginning to discuss at least 24 hours prior to the due time shows that consideration and will be factored into your grade.

Step 1 is worth 50 points (20 for profile answers, 5 for picture, 5 for responding to group members, and 20 points for taking the leadership quiz and responding to your leadership profile with a minimum of three supporting comments).

In Step 2, your group’s task is to read the prompt and decide how to move forward. Use your Group Discussion Board Step 2 Forum to communicate with one another. Click on the PINK link above to get to your group area and go to the Step 2 Forum of the Group Discussion Board.

1. Your group will analyze relationship dynamics via a popular television series. Your series choices are “Jane the Virgin,” “Black’ish,” "The Big Bang Theory," or "Modern Family."  

2. Decide on ONE series and then narrow down to a season and then to 1 or 2 episodes in particular. Make sure that everyone in your group has either seen the movie/episode(s), or can get access to it easily (Full episodes online, hulu.com, redbox, Netflix, etc.) If at all possible, post a link to the episode directly.

You should have this conversation on your Group Discussion Board in “Groups" in the Step 2 Forum. You can subscribe to the forum so that you are alerted by email every time someone posts. NOTE: You are allowed to communicate with your group in another fashion, such as group emails, texts, Skype, even a conference call. However, someone will have to post who all contributed and what the decisions were in the Step 2 forum, otherwise I won't be able to grade your participation.

3. Watch the chosen episode(s) and choose TWO “Key Terms” from Chapter 7 or Chapter 8, or one term from each chapter (a list of key terms for chapter 7 is on pages 210, and for chapter 8 on page 241) that you saw in the episode.

4. Create a group list of which Key Terms you will use for the next Step, so that no one else in your group chooses the same one, preventing overlap. Write it this way: "I, (insert your name), am choosing ____ and ____ as my two key terms." Then the next person will reply to the first person, copy and paste the first person's terms into their thread and add their own. By the end you should have this:

[Group Member #1 name] chose ____ and ____.

[Group Member #2 name] chose ____ and ____.

[Group Member #3 name] chose ____ and ____.

Lastly, I, (insert your name), am choosing ____ and ____.

(One entry for each person in your group, so that by the time the last person posts, your instructor can see everyone's terms in a compiled list. Also, this way you can keep track and absolutely make sure you aren't choosing something that a group member has already chosen. Otherwise the different threads can get overlooked.) 

NOTE: You are not actually writing any analysis of your two terms yet. You're just telling your group members which terms you are claiming. Your written analysis will be Step 3.If someone does not contribute meaningfully to making a decision and posting their terms to Step 2 in the Group Discussion Board forum, that person will not receive points for this step.

Step 2 is worth 25 points (10 for contributing to deciding the show to watch, 10 points for posting two terms that don't overlap with your group members' choices, 5 for contributing in the form of a compiled group list).

Remember to subscribe to the forum so that when your group members post, you will be notified via email.

In Step 3, each group member will use their two key terms from Chapter 7 or Chapter 8, or one term from each chapter (a list of key terms in chapter 7 is on page 210, and for chapter 8 on 241) chosen back in Step 2 to look for and analyze in the movie/episode.  Click on the PINK link above to get to your Groups area. 

Step 3 will be completed in the  Group Discussion Board Step 3 Forum .

1. You will begin this step by writing a paraphrased definition of the first term you chose  in your own words, followed by a paragraph for that term explaining how you saw it demonstrated in the episode. Underline, CAPITALIZE or highlight the terminology used in your paragraph.

2. Then write a paraphrased definition of the second term you chose  in your own words, followed by a paragraph for that term explaining how you saw it demonstrated in the episode. Underline, CAPITALIZE or highlight the terminology used in your paragraph.

3. You should look at what your group members have posted to make sure you have done the assignment correctly and that they have done the assignment correctly. Reply to at least one group member to confirm that they have done the assignment correctly or incorrectly.

Step 3 is worth 50 individual points for posting two paragraphs (pictures optional) and a response to a group member. Paragraphs should begin with a paraphrased definition of each term (10 points for each), followed by an explanation of its role in the show (10 points for each paragraph, -2 for each term not underlined, capitalized, or highlighted), there should be a reply to at least one group member that they've done it correctly (10 points), and be delivered to your group members' discussion board on time.

Remember to subscribe to the forum so that when your group members post, you will be notified via email.

In Step 4, your group will create a Wiki page using all of Individual Contributions from Step 3.

1. The FIRST person to go to the Group Wiki page will click "Create Wiki Page." Once a Group Wiki page is created, everyone else will click "Edit Wiki Content" (you should not have multiple Wikis--just one that everyone edits).

2. You will post your two paragraphs with paraphrased definitions to your Group Wiki at least 24 hours before the deadline, allowing your group members enough time to edit your work. Make sure if your group members and/or instructor gave you feedback in Step 3 and requested you change something that you have taken that feedback into account.

3. You should provide AT LEAST ONE edit to your group member's posts. This can include:

a. Correcting 3-5 spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors (must have been incorrect to begin with--you can't make one incorrect then change it back)

b. Formatting all paragraphs to contain the same underline, highlight, bold, spacing etc. for a consistent, clean looking Wiki

c. Adding pictures to paragraphs for a scene (if missing)

d. Correcting anything that a group member neglected to fix from Step 3

By the end you should have each group member's contribution labeled by name, formatted to look like everyone else's in terms of font, underlining/bold/highlighting, spacing, and should include at least one picture per scene discussed. Remember--the goal is to communicate clearly with your group, working with each person's unique strengths to provide a clean, interesting page that thoroughly analyzes this show.

Please NOTE: You MUST list the source of the picture you post for each scene discussed. This photo credit should be listed in a size 10-font below the picture. You should also list the day you copied the photo from the website. Remember that in academic work it is important to give appropriate credit to your source.

Follow this example:

Name: Your Name

Sitcom Name and Episosde: Modern Family, Season 7, Episode 13 "Thunk in the Trunk" Phil Gives Claire a Pep Talk

Key Term #1 – explanation and how it is demonstrated in this episode. (Minimum of five sentences)

Key Term #2 – explanation and how it is demonstrated in this episode.

(Minimum of five sentences)

Insert photo

http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family/episode-guide/season-07/12-clean-for-a-day , Retrieved February 23, 2016

Step 4 is worth 25 individual points for posting two corrected paragraphs from Step 3 and for providing a clear edit or multiple edits to your group members' posts. Paragraphs should include a paraphrased definition of each term, explanation of its role in the show, and be delivered to your group members' Wiki area 24 hours in advance of the deadline.

Points will be awarded to each INDIVIDUAL for contributing in this step to the project. Therefore, someone not contributing won't lower YOUR grade, only theirs. You must click SUBMIT after editing Wiki Content for your contributions to be saved and visible to the group.

Step 1 (50 points)

___/20 Points - Answering all prompts in #1 (a-e; 2 pts each)

___/10 Points – Taking Leadership Assessment and bolding/highlighting/underlining orientation

___/5 Points - Responding politely and with interest to AT LEAST ONE, if not all, of your group members’ posts

___/5 Points - Picture of yourself posted (must be appropriate)

___/10 points for responding to leadership quiz with three supporting comments

Step 2 (25 points) ___/10 Points - Contributed to brainstorming and choosing a TV show/episode at least 24 hours before due date (note up to -10 points may be deducted for posting less than 24 hours before the deadline)  ___/10 Points - Choosing and posting two unique Key Terms from Chapters 7 and/or 8 (must not overlap with another group member)

___/5 points - Adding your key terms to a compiled group list (doesn't pertain to the first person to post)

 

 Step 3 (50 points)

___/20 Points – First chosen Key Term paraphrased definition and paragraph

___/20 Points – Second chosen Key Term paraphrased definition and paragraph

 (-2 if each term is not highlighted, underlined, or in CAPS in each paragraph)

___/10 Points – Reviewing and confirming at least one group member has done their portion correctly or incorrectly

 

 Step 4 (25 points)

___/10 points - Posting your paragraphs to the Wiki more than 24 hours before the deadline ___/15 Points – Reviewing Wiki and contributing at least one meaningful edit to the Wiki in the form of adding picture(s), formatting everyone’s paragraphs to look consistent (follow the model), adding credits to embedded screen shots