This document provides an overview and instructions for a group project in a COM101 class. It discusses forming groups, developing ground rules, potential issues that can undermine group work, and expectations for the final group presentation. Students will choose a case study to present on as a group. They are provided with examples of ground rules, consequences if expectations aren't met, and rubrics for individual and team evaluations. The document encourages using strategies from the course texts and offers suggestions for the presentation, such as using PowerPoint, YouTube or Second Life.

1. Winter 2010 COM101
Group Project Overview

2. “Learning in Teams”
A team of students had four members called
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done.
Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was
Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody
could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody
wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody
blamed Somebody when Nobody did what
Anybody could have done.
(Graham Gibbs)

3. Groups for Final Project
• Please write your Group Name, Group
Members’ Names, & Case Study you chose on
the colored paper

4. 5 Ways to Wreck a Group
• List 5 behaviors or actions that can undermine
group work
– Example: One member “forgets” to complete
assignments
– Roundtable Instructions:
• One piece of paper and pen per group
• First student writes one response and says it out loud
• First student passes paper to the left, second student
writes response…
• Continues around group until time elapses
• Students may “pass” at any time
• Group stops when time is called
(Cooperative Learning, Millis, B.J., 1999; Group Dynamics 101; Allen, D., 2002; Working in Groups, Duch, B., 2000)

5. Developing Ground Rules
• Use the worksheet provided to develop Ground
Rules for your group. Your ground rules must:
– be agreed upon by all members of your group.
– clearly state expectations for group members' behavior.
– discuss consequences for certain behaviors when
expectations are not met.
– address absences as well as issues related to students
who do not contribute equally.
• These ground rules will be used during the semester
to assure that you have the most worthwhile
learning experience possible.
• Be prepared to share your list with the class.

6. Examples of Ground Rules
Arrive to class on time
Come to class prepared
Share information with group members
Respect the views, values, and ideas of group
members
(Group Dynamics 101; Allen,
D., 2002)

7. More Sample Ground Rules
One person speaks at a time
We agree to talk directly with the person with
whom there are concerns, and not seek to
involve others in “gossip” or “alliance building”
We agree to try our hardest and trust that
others are doing the same within the group
We agree to attack the issues, not the people
with whom we disagree
(Ground Rules; University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Human Resource Development, 2008)

8. Sample Consequences
• Group member will be responsible for a greater
share of the next assignment.
• Group member will have a “time out” and will
be responsible for completing work on his/her
own.
(Working in Groups;
Duch, 2003)

9. Group Project
• To receive full credit for your group presentation
on March 31, you should:
– Be completely prepared and well rehearsed
– Show a full understanding of the topic/case
– Accurately answer almost all questions posed by
classmates about the topic
– Listen to, share with, and support the efforts of others
in the group; try to keep people working well together
– Fill out peer evaluations completely and give scores
based on the presentation rather than other factors
(e.g., person is a close friend)

10. Group Project Individual Scoring
Rubric

11. Group Project
• To receive full credit from your group members,
you should:
– Bring needed materials to class and always be ready
to work
– Consistently stay focused on the task and what needs
to be done; be very self-directed
– Routinely use time well throughout the project to
ensure things get done on time
– Always listen to, share with, and support the efforts of
others; try to keep people working well together
– Routinely monitor the effectiveness of the group, and
make suggestions to make it more effective

12. Group Project Team Member
Evaluation

13. • Consider the success strategies in the text when
investigating solutions. Be sure to include these
in your presentation!
• What are some of the strategies we’ve already
covered?

14. Some possibilities for your
presentation

15. You Tube

16. Second Life

17. Second Life

18. Student Technology Center
• Begin scheduling your appointments now with
the Student Technology Center (248-370-4832
or stc@oakland.edu).
• They can assist you with:
• PowerPoint
• YouTube
• SecondLife

19. Questions?