SPCH 1200 - Group Discussion & Leadership

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate mature interpersonal communication attitudes, balance and work habits while planning and self‐assessing communication performance.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of small group communication including: definitions, types of groups, systems and synergy, formation and development of groups and team building.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of leadership theory.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and professional behavior interaction skills including: member needs and groups goals; participation and leadership; task function and maintenance functions; verbal communication and nonverbal communication; cohesiveness and conflict; seeking consensus and offering arguments; structured procedures and creative/critical thinking; negotiation and mediation; shared perceptions and respect for differences; as well as speaking and listening skills by participating in informal and formal group problem solving exercises in business, education, health, or industrial contexts.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and usage of tools and skill resources for group production including: research; agenda setting; minuting; parliamentary procedure, formats of meetings and conference; and conducting meetings and planning conferences by planning and participating in classroom meetings and conferences simulating business, education, health or industrial context.
6. Demonstrate leadership skills by leading meetings configured under various management styles in business, education, health, or industrial context.

Outcome 2:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to produce demonstrations of agenda‐driven, problem solving meetings, using a variety of discussion formats in an ethical manner.

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate mature interpersonal communication attitudes, balance and work habits while planning and self‐assessing communication performance.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of small group communication including: definitions, types of groups, systems and synergy, formation and development of groups and team building.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and usage of tools and skill resources for group production including: research; agenda setting; minuting; parliamentary procedure, formats of meetings and conference; and conducting meetings and planning conferences by planning and participating in classroom meetings and conferences simulating business, education, health or industrial context.
4. Analyze group exercises in business, education, health, or industrial context and self assess personal behavior including evaluation, personal reactions and application of small group theory.

Outcome 3:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to present extempore discussion/problem‐solving symposia to specific audiences using media aids.

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of leadership theory.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and professional behavior interaction skills including: member needs and groups goals; participation and leadership; task function and maintenance functions; verbal communication and nonverbal communication; cohesiveness and conflict; seeking consensus and offering arguments; structured procedures and creative/critical thinking; negotiation and mediation; shared perceptions and respect for differences; as well as speaking and listening skills by participating in informal and formal group problem solving exercises in business, education, health, or industrial contexts.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and usage of tools and skill resources for group production including: research; agenda setting; minuting; parliamentary procedure, formats of meetings and conference; and conducting meetings and planning conferences by planning and participating in classroom meetings and conferences simulating business, education, health or industrial context.
4. Analyze group exercises in business, education, health, or industrial context and self assess personal behavior including evaluation, personal reactions and application of small group theory.
5. Demonstrate leadership skills by leading meetings configured under various management styles in business, education, health, or industrial context.

1. Assessments Theory of Group Work
   1. Forming, Norming, Storming, Performing Model
   2. Formation of Cooperative Learning Groups

Outline based on Multiple Sources

2. Unit One - Philosophical Underpinnings Theories
   1. Problem: What are the basic group concepts?
   2. Theory Base
      1. Introduction to Small Group Communication
         1. Defining Small Group Communication
         2. Process of Group Communication
         3. Synergistic System
         4. Types of Groups
         5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Groups
      2. Group Formation and Development
         1. Why People Need Groups
         2. Task and Social Dimensions
         3. How Groups Develop
         4. Group Norms
         5. Dealing with Change
         6. Balancing Needs and Norms
      3. Participation in Groups
         1. Who wants to be a follower?
         2. Theories of Participation
         3. Guidelines for Participation
         4. Dealing with Difficulties
         5. Balanced Participation
      4. Skill Practice Assessment: Videos and Exercises
      5. Performance: Discussion Groups
3. Unit Two - Speaker’s Tool Box Interaction Skills
   1. Problem: What are the skills necessary for interacting in groups?
   2. Theory Base
      1. Confidence in Groups
         1. Member Confidence
         2. Communication Apprehension
         3. Social Tensions
         4. Assertiveness
         5. Balancing Confidence and Tension
      2. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Groups
         1. Two Essential Tools
         2. Language and Meaning
         3. Team Talk
         4. Language Difficulties
         5. Adapting to Language Differences
         6. Importance of Nonverbal Communication
         7. Nonverbal Behavior
         8. The Nonverbal Environment
         9. Creating a Communication Climate
         10. Balancing Language and Nonverbal Behavior
      3. Listening in Groups
         1. Hearing and Listening
         2. The Need for Effective Listening
         3. Types of Listening
         4. Group Roles and Listening
         5. Group Listening Skills
         6. Taking Notes in Groups
         7. Self‐Listening in Groups
         8. Adapting to Different Listeners
         9. Balanced Listening
      4. Conflict and Cohesion in Groups
         1. Conflict in Groups
         2. Constructive and Destructive Conflict
         3. Conflict Styles
         4. Approaches to Conflict Management
         5. Group Cohesion
         6. Adapting to Differences
         7. Balancing Conflict and Cohesion
      5. Skill Practice Assessment: Beebe ‘s Small Group Instrument The Competent Group Communicator
      6. Performance: Discussion Groups
4. Unit Three - Participation Tools
   1. Problem(s): What is leadership? What are the processes necessary to achieve group’s goals? Why Argue?
   2. Theory Base
      1. Leadership in Groups
         1. Leadership and Power
         2. Becoming a Leader
         3. Leadership Theories
         4. The 4‐M Model of Leadership Effectiveness
         5. Diversity and Leadership
         6. Balanced Leadership
      2. Decision Making and Problem Solving in Groups
         1. Group Decision Making
         2. Decision Making Methods
         3. Understanding the Discussion Question
         4. The Need for Procedures
         5. Problem‐Solving Models
         6. Decision‐Making Methods and Tools
         7. Creative Problem Solving
         8. Decision‐Making Realities
         9. Balanced Decision Making
      3. Argumentation in Groups
         1. Argumentativeness
         2. The Structure of an Argument
         3. Presenting Your Arguments(s)
         4. Refuting Arguments
         5. Ethical Arguments
         6. Adapting to Argumentative Styles
         7. Balanced Argumentation
      4. Motivation in Groups
         1. The Language of Motivation
         2. Group Motivation
         3. Motivation and Assessment
         4. Motivation and Rewards
         5. Balancing Motivation, Assessment and Rewards
      5. Skill Practice Assessment: Speech Instruments
      6. Performance: Group Discussions
5. Unit Four - Achieving Group Goals ‐ Processes
   1. Problem: What are the resources and goals small group communicators need?
   2. Theory Base
      1. Informed Groups
         1. Becoming a well‐informed group
         2. Note your sources
         3. Sources of Information
         4. Types of Information
         5. Evaluating Information
         6. Using Information Effectively
         7. Balancing Information Quality and Quantity
      2. Technology and Virtual Groups
         1. Technology and Group Communication
         2. Group Communication Media
         3. Groupware
         4. Collaborative Presentation Technology
         5. Balancing Technology in Groups
         6. Research Skills - Technology
      3. Planning and Conducting Meetings
         1. Planning the Meeting
         2. Preparing the Agenda
         3. The Chairperson’s Responsibilities
         4. Dealing with Difficulties
         5. Adapting to Difficulties
         6. Preparing the Minutes
         7. Evaluating the Meeting
         8. Balanced Meetings
      4. Making Presentation in Groups
         1. Presentations in Groups
         2. Oral Presentation Guidelines
         3. Technology and Presentation Aids
         4. Group Presentations
         5. Questions and Answers
         6. Balanced Oral Presentations
      5. Parliamentary Procedure
         1. The Rules of the Game
         2. Parliamentary Procedure’s Principles and Players
         3. Basic Rules of Order
         4. Informal Rules
         5. Balanced Procedures
      6. Skill Practice Assessment: Observations
      7. Performance
         1. Agenda
         2. Minuting
      8. Parliamentary Procedure