Lesson in team-building: SEM1902/COM150 Sem3 2016-17

Blogging Schedule for SEM1902/COM150, Tri 3, 2016-17

E-portfolio/Blogging Schedule

Please write 350–400 words for each assignment listed below, and then post it on your blog by Sunday evening of the assignment week. By Saturday of the week you posted, you should have made relevant comments in a paragraph or so on the posts of at least three classmates (i.e. two group mates and one other classmate). If you like, you can read and comment on the posts of other classmates as well.

 

 Week 1 / Blog set up

 

Create your blog (or wordpress.com or blogger.com) and forward your blog address to your tutor’s e-mail (or post it on an instructor-created Google doc). You should also share your address with the members of a blog group that will be assigned during the first lesson. You might also post the links for your classmates’ blog addresses on your own blog. (Email blog address to tutor by 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 10.)

 

 Week 2 / Descriptive Reflection: Strengths and Challenges in Communicating (Blogpost #1)

 

For your first post, describe your strengths in communication and the challenges you have when communicating with others. In view of this, state two objectives you will set for yourself to achieve by the end of this course. (Post draft by 11:30 p.m. on Sunday May 14.)

After you have posted, read at least two of your blogging group members’ posts and at least one post by a member of your class group at large and leave comments. There is no limit, of course, on the number of posts you can read. However, what is most important is the quality of your response. You should reflect on each one of the posts in light of your own understanding of effective communication skills, and you should offer appropriate insights in the comments section of each post that you read.

 Week 8 / Interpersonal Conflict Resolution (Blogpost #2)

There are 2 parts to this post.

Part 1: Describe in detail an interpersonal conflict situation, real or hypothetical. Clarity and conciseness are important, as is completeness in your story-telling. Describe the context of the conflict, the people involved, and your perspective of the main problem and possible causes and effects. Try to identify the feelings and/or motivations of the people involved. DO NOT describe how the problem was resolved. Seek from your readers a solution to the interpersonal conflict and reasons for their recommendation. You might ask: What would you do if you were in the conflict situation? (Post draft by 11:30 p.m. on Sunday Jun 25.)

As you read your classmates' posts on the same topic, analyze each conflict in light of your understanding of interpersonal communication, conflict management and other principles of communication, and then provide feedback with appropriate insights and a possible solution. Make sure to explain your solution based on what you have learned about effective interpersonal communication. (Post response by 11:30 p.m. on Thursday Jun 29.)

Part 2: Return to your own post for your classmates’ responses. Read their suggested solutions and reasons. Consider the suggestions in light of communication principles and then give your own answer to the problem, including your reasons for your solution. (Post final version by 11:30 p.m. on Thursday Jul 6.)

Week 11 / Project Summary (Blogpost #3)    

Post a project summary, which describes each of the following:

·         a particular social or workplace context

·         your project’s focus (specific communication principles/theories)

·         the interpersonal communication problem being explored

·         the significance of the topic

·         the objective and scope of your study

·         proposed data collection/research method

·         potential solutions/implementation for problem resolution

·         concluding thoughts

Your synopsis should be persuasive. Convince your readers that:

·         the interpersonal communication problem you have chosen deserves to be examined;

·         your team’s approach to solving the problem, based on specific communication principles/theories, is reasonable and appropriate.

(Post draft by 11:30 p.m. on Sunday Jul 16.)

Week 14 / Critical Reflection on Learning in the Course (Blogpost #4)

For this post, write on two learning experiences.

1.      Refer to the two objectives you set yourself at the start of the course (Blogpost 1). Critically reflect on the extent to which you have achieved (or not) the said objectives. You might also reflect on what you have done, as well as what you would do, to further enhance your interpersonal and work communication skills.

2.      Choose one focus of the project and critically reflect on your learning in the project. Discuss specific points, such as presentation skills, including verbal and non-verbal skills, teamwork skills, or leadership skills. DO NOT just describe what you did and whether you liked it. Rather, explain what you learned about yourself and others in the process. For instance, how has the experience changed your view of learning and, specifically, of interpersonal communication? What might you take forward from this project experience?

(Post by 11:30 p.m. on Sunday Aug 6.)

After you read your classmates’ posts, give them appropriate feedback on their reflection. Relate what you read of their learning experiences to what you know of interpersonal communication.

Week 15/ Additional posts (with bonus marks)

Additional posts could include the following:

·         Mini critical reflections on learning points throughout the course. Write each mini reflection in not more than 150 words.

·         Documentation from the Project, the Presentation Pitch (PP) and the Project Oral Presentation (POP) (i.e. meeting minutes, notes from your storyboard of the project video, outline for the PP, and notes or a script for the POP, and the video itself).

Although no student feedback is required for these posts, comments are welcomed.