CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(Semester system)
I. Chapter One: Communication Competence
A. Overview of class: goals, explanation of syllabus
B. “Similarities/Differences” exercise
C. Lecture/discussion: transactional communication and the communication
competence model
D. Excerpt from movie, The Joy Luck Club
E. Excerpt from movie, Mystic Pizza, followed by class discussion applying the
II. Chapter Two: Groups As Systems
A. Lecture/discussion on systems
B. Excerpt from movie, The Breakfast Club
C. “Group Synergy: Group Versus Individual Performance” exercise
D. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter II
E. “Influence of Size” exercise
III. Chapter Three: Group Development
A. Lecture/discussion on periodic phases of group development
B. Excerpts from “Candid Camera”
C. Excerpts of norm violations from the movies (e.g., Liar, Liar; Never Been
Kissed; Groundhog Day; Trains, Planes, and Automobiles; Splash; and Fast
Times At Ridgemont High)
D. “Building Blocks: Group Polarization and Pressure” exercise (break class
into term groups: maximum 7 members)
E. Symposium preparation: class period (or part of one) for term groups to
prepare first symposium assignment
F. Cooperative exam #1
IV. Chapter Four: Developing the Group Climate
A. “Win As Much Money As You Can” exercise
V. Chapter Five: Roles and Leadership in Groups
A. Lecture/discussion on roles
B. Quiet Rage: The Stanford Prison Study videotape
C. Excerpt from movie The Doctor
D. “Role Expectation, Role Performance” exercise
E. “Role Feedback” exercise
F. Excerpt from movie, The Breakfast Club with discussion applying excerpt to
emerging roles in groups and dealing with difficult group members
G. Lecture/discussion on leadership
H. Excerpt from movie, A League of Their Own
I. Excerpt from movie The Dream Team
J. Symposium presentations
VI. Chapter Six: Developing Effective Teams
A. Lecture/discussion: Effective/ineffective teambuilding
B. The Deep Dive video on IDEO
VII. Chapter Seven: Group Discussion: Defective Decision-making and Problem Solving
A. Lecture/discussion on mindsets (confirmation bias and false dichotomies)
B. The Angry Eye Jane Elliott video
C. “Technology and Information Overload” demonstration/discussion
D. “False Dichotomies” exercise
VIII. Chapter Eight: Group Discussion: Effective Decision-making and Problem Solving
A. Lecture/discussion on Standard Agenda; PERT
B. “You Be the Jury” consensus exercise
C. The “Abandon Ship” exercise
D. “Brainstorming” exercise
E. “Egg drop” creative problem solving
IX. Chapter Nine: Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic
A. Lecture/discussion on power resources
H. Full class period processing of “The Power Carnival” exercise
I. Excerpt from TV Nation
J. “Stand Up, Sit Down” assertiveness exercise
K. Assertiveness self-assessment questionnaire/discussion
X. Conflict Management in Groups
A. Lecture/discussion on conflict styles and negotiating strategies
B. “Conflict Case studies” exercise
C. Conflict Resolution online questionnaire and group discussion.
NOTE: Each activity above does not necessarily take a 50-minute class period. Some
activities take more, some less time.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(Quarter system)
I. Chapter One: Communication Competence
A. Overview of class: goals, explanation of syllabus
B. Lecture/discussion: transactional communication and the communication
competence model
II. Chapter Two: Groups As Systems
A. Lecture/discussion on systems
B. “Group Synergy” exercise
C. “Influence of Size” exercise
III. Chapter Three: Group Development
A. Lecture/discussion on periodic phases of group development
B. “Building Blocks: Group Polarization and Pressure” exercise (break class into
term groups)
C. Symposium preparation: class period (or part of one) for term groups (maximum
7 members) to prepare first symposium assignment
D. Cooperative exam #1
IV. Chapter Four: Developing the Group Climate
A. “Win As Much Money As You Can” exercise
V. Chapter Five: Roles and Leadership in Groups
A. Lecture/discussion on roles; “Role Feedback” exercise
B. Quiet Rage: The Stanford Prison Study videotape
C. Lecture/discussion on leadership
D. Symposium presentation
VI. Chapter Six: Developing Effective Teams
A. The Deep Dive video on IDEO
A. The Angry Eye Jane Elliott video
B. “Collective Inferential Error” exercise/discussion
C. Lecture/discussion on groupthink
VIII. Chapter Eight: Group Discussion: Effective Decision-making and Problem
Solving
A. Lecture/discussion on Standard Agenda; PERT
B. “You Be the Jury” consensus exercise
C. “Egg drop” creative problem solving exercise
IX. Chapter Nine: Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic
A. Discuss power resources
X. Chapter Ten: Conflict Management in Groups
A. Lecture/discussion on conflict styles and negotiating strategies
B. “Conflict Case studies” exercise
C. Cooperative Exam #3
NOTE: Dropping one of the symposium projects may be advisable in order to cover the
necessary activities above in 10-11 week term. Condensing the three cooperative tests