<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> 212 Template

 

COM 212 Interpersonal Communication

Dr. Marcia D. Dixson

NF 230B

481-6558

dixson@ipfw.edu

Mom and me

Navigating the rough waters of interpersonal communication!

(My mom and I on the river)

 

 

Return to syllabus

Units page

212 Groups and webpages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit Structure

Each unit lasts about two weeks and requires a quiz, an addition to your interpersonal analysis webpage, and participation in three discussion forums. General information about these assignments can be found below. Following that are links to specific units.

Quizzes: Quizzes are designed to be sure you understand key concepts and terms from the chapters and that you have done the reading and are prepared for the group and application assignments. Each unit quiz will be available for four days: Saturday through Tuesday (except the first two Units when it runs Monday - Wednesday). You can only take a quiz once.

Addition to interpersonal analysis webpage (individual assignments) : This webpage is designed to help you apply the concepts you are learning. You will be asked to recall and analyze interpersonal interactions you have experienced or observed (you may use mediated interactions, i.e, television shows, movies, books etc.). You are not required to use your own experiences but you are encouraged to do so - you can change the names, if you like :).

Each time an addition to your interpersonal analysis page is required you will have two due dates. The first is when you must have your information posted, generally on the first Friday of the unit. Then you will have time to comment on each other's webpages (within your groups). The second due date is when all revisions must be made and I will begin grading after the last Friday of the unit. Points will be deducted if you miss either due date.

You may use any software you like to create your webpage. If you have never done one before, I suggest Nvu. It is not very powerful (i.e., does not allow for lots of bells and whistles) but it is quite easy to use. If you use Nvu, Netscape or Dreamweaver, I can probably help you if you get stuck. If you choose to use something else, that's fine but I can't offer too much technical support. Unless you are very sure of yourself, don't use Microsoft Word or FrontPage, they each tend to have problems being viewed as webpages by browsers other than Explorer (which I, for one, do not use).

Need help creating your webpage? Here are step by step instructions and quicktime movies for creating a webpage in Nvu or Netscape. These programs allow you to create a webpage and then upload it to your IPFW webspace. Many sudents have also found www.webs.com very easy to use. You are welcome to check this out but I cannot offer technical support for this site.

If you have trouble, email, call or come and see me. Or, you can check in with the helpdesk (481-6030). Do not wait until the day an assignment is due to try to get it up on the web. You might have problems, the server may go down etc. - always work ahead when you can!

Know how to create a webpage but need help with writing for one? One of our English professors has graciously provided hints about writing for the web

Discussion forums (group assignments) : Each unit requires participation in three group discussion forums: Case study forum, debate forum, webpage comment forum. One discussion forum will analyze case studies designed to give you the opportunity to explore some of the concepts in more depth, to apply them in analyzing and evaluating interpersonal interactions/situations. Please take time to read the following paragraphs about how to be successful in those discussion forums:

Successfully using case study discussion forums: The discussion forums are graded on the depth of critical analysis each group exhibits about the topics at hand. Be sure to post in the forum for your group. You will recieve both an individual grade for your contributions (quantity and quality) and a group grade over the final answer posting. You are expected to make at least 5 content entries into the forum for each topic. Helpful hints: "content entries" include comments beyond "good job"; do not try to make all of your entries in one or two days; back to back postings count as one entry.

Each discussion forum assignment is allowed 7 days to develop. During that time you are expected to be checking the forum daily, keeping up with, and interacting in the conversation. Concentrate on commenting, adding examples and/or specificity and asking questions. You should also comment on the responses of other members of your group. (Hint: "I agree" does not constitute a response!) Make this, as much as possible, a conversation. You will be graded on the depth and thoughtfulness of your responses. Please check every day when there is a discussion going on. End dates for these mark the end of the discussion (not when you should first enter the discussion).

IMPORTANT: Everyone should post their initial answers to that unit's discussion topic by the first Wednesday of the unit. The facilitator for that discussion is responsible for asking questions, clarifying, summarizing and synthesizing until the group reaches consensus about its Final Answer and the Evidence for those answers. Final answers should be posted in your family's discussion forum with the subject heading: FINAL ANSWER FOR "YOUR GROUP NAME." Final answers are due on the second Wednesday of the unit.

Debate of final answers: Once final answers are posted, I will move them to a class discussion forum (as opposed to each group's forum). You will then have from Thursday to Sunday to question and challenge the answers of other groups as well as answer the questions/challenges that your group gets. This is an academic disussion of varying perspectives, not a free for all. At the end of that secondary discussion (Sunday), Molly will award 3 extra credit points to the group with the best articulated/defended argument. (Note: if your group wins but you did not participate in the debate, you do not earn the extra credit points.) Please note that the debate runs from Thursday morning to Sunday night. This is to accommodate those of you who do a lot of your work on the weekend. If you participate heavily on Thursday and Friday, you are not required to participate on Saturday and/or Sunday.

Successfully using webpage comment forum: For each unit, once the initial webpage addition is due, you are required to answer a specific question about each of the other webpages in your group (so 4 or 5 each time). You should answer that question for each of your group members and respond to their questions/comments about you. This part of the project is designed to help you see other perspectives on what we are studying, to help you get to know your group members (you are not in this alone), to further your understanding of the concepts, and so you can help each other improve your webpage additions (and, thus, your grades).

All assignments, quizzes etc. are due by midnight (quizzes by 11:55 pm) on the date due.

Typical Unit Schedule

First week of a unit:

Saturday through Tuesday: Read chapters; take Quiz

Wednesday: post individual answers in discussion forum for case study;

Wednesday - Wednesday of Week Two: participate in discussion forum and reach final answers

Friday: make initial addition to interpersonal interaction webpage for that unit

Friday - Thursday of Week Two: make comments on other group members' webpage additions and make revisions to your webpage

Second week of a unit:

Participate in discussion through Wednesday

Comment on others webpages by Thursday and revise your own by Friday

Wednesday - Sunday: post questions/challenges to other groups' final answers and answer their questions about your group's final answers.

Further information and assignments

Unit 1: Introduction to the course and each other: Chapter 1

Unit 2: Perception of self and others: Chapters 2 and 3

Unit 3: Developing interpersonal skills, Part 1: Chapters 5 and 8

Unit 4: Developing interpersonal skills, Part 2: Chapters 6 and 7

Unit 5: Competent communication of emotion and during conflict: Chapters 4 and 9

Unit 6: Close Relationships: Chapters 10 and 11

Unit 7: Work Relationships: Chapter 12