Syllabus

The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota

DGN 1101 The Responsible
Self: Communicating and Functioning More Effectively in Groups
Section: 015
Credits:02
Time, Day, and Location:
Noon-1:40pm, Tuesdays, T 3150

Instructor: Monica Marciniak
Email: mbutche@css.edu

Peer Mentor: Ryan Murphy
Email: rmurphy3@css.edu

Office Hours and location:
by appointment and/or MWF 1:00-2:00, F 10:30-11:40. Please feel free to stop by my office anytime,if I am able I would be happy to meet with you. I am located in Tower 3670. My office is the third cube when you enter the room.

Dignitas
Program Outcomes
Students will develop both theoretical and experiential ideas of
dignity by viewing it through multiple windows:

Common Program Elements
Window #1:Accept and value the challenges and responsibilities involved in being
a first year college student.Takeresponsibility for personal choices.

Articulate how personal choices impact self, learning and others.

Develop the necessary skills to make informed meaningful choices.

Evaluate choices based on the concept of dignity

Window #2: Effective Communication in Groups (our class topic)

Actively engage in intellectual development through intensive study of the topic

Reflect on the topic from multiple perspectives

Clarify values

Cultivatecritical thinking skills

Practice expressing ideas clearly and appropriately

Develop the capacity to understand and interact effectively with others
who differ in beliefs, behaviors, values and worldview


Window #3: Connections with the larger Community
·
Become familiar with the St. Scholastica mission statement and identity
as a Catholic, Benedictine community.

Explore a variety of experiences and perspectives on the St. Scholastica campus and the greater community.

Common
Experiences for Dignitas 2011-2012
1. Community Day
2. Participation in a pilgrimage, as chosen by
instructor (fall or spring semester)
3. Participation in Spring Community Day “Thanksgiving
in Spring” dinner or Day at the Capitol.
4. Benedictine tradition presented by a Sister
5. That Sex Thing
6. Presentation with Eboo Patel

Common Print Text for Dignitas 2011-12: Acts of Faith
We will discuss this book in lectures throughout the entire year.


Course Description:
Dignitas, a year long common experience for first year students, is an introduction to The College of St. Scholastica: who we are, what we stand for, and how to find your place in this community. Dignitas provides a framework for yourentire college experience by introducing you to the key components of a Scholastica education: community, eflection, intellectual challenge, and social justice.

It all begins with community. Our Benedictine founders lived in community; our Benedictine sponsors live in this community today. Because CSS is a college, we are particularly concerned with learning communities. Your Dignitas class will create one of many such communities:acknowledging that none of us has cornered the market on wisdom, we work together to discover, understand, and create knowledge. With respect for the individual and hospitality to ideas, we challenge each other to entertain new ideas and think critically about our own beliefs.

As a Benedictine institution, we are also about reflection andcontemplation. Unlike more urban religious orders, Benedictines generally locate themselves apart from the hustle of the street, not to isolate themselves from the world, but to provide a space for reflection and renewal before venturing back out into the
fray. This emphasis on reflection translates, in educational terms, into a commitment to think seriously about ideas and experiences: to connect theory and practice, to examine our experience in light of others’
experiences and in light of theories we are learning; and to challengereceived wisdom. In an increasingly anti-intellectual world, we are about the life of the mind, and we are not embarrassed to proclaim this. You will be challenged!

Finally, we are about social justice. Our emphasis on community compels us to look outward to the larger communities in which we live—our city, our country, our world. Human dignity is the thread that connects the many different Dignitas sections. As we reflect, critique, and construct our own perspectives on dignity, we challenge ourselves to apply that knowledge to create ever better communities: to touch the world.

In keeping with our emphasis on community, in the Dignitas program, you will
be able to remain with the same small group of students and faculty for
the year as you explore an intellectually challenging subject, participate in co-curricular activities, and become integrated into the CSS community.

The two courses are:

Dignitas
1101 The Responsible Self, Fall Semester
2 credits

Dignitas
1102 And Dignity for All, Spring Semester
2 credits


Grading
Dignitas instructors have agreed to use the following definitions in assigning grades for coursework.

A = Excellent 100-95, A- 94-90
B = Very good B+ 89-86, B 85-84, B- 83-80
C = Satisfactory C+ 79-76, C 75-74, C- 73-70
D = Passing D+ 69-68, D 67-66, D-65-60
F = Unsatisfactory

Our Class Information:

DGN 1101 The Responsible Self: Communicating and Functioning More Effectively in
Groups
Catalog Description of Our Section:
Inour college years and well beyond, we must be able to communicate successfully
with groups of people. Group projects and assignments have become a standard in
the college classroom. When students are actively involved in a process, they
learn the most. Researchers show that, regardless of the subject matter,
students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and
retain it longer than when the same content is presented in other instructional
formats. Furthermore, students who work in collaborative groups also appear
more satisfied with their classes. Although the benefits of collaborative
learning are enormous, students are often filled with dread when they are
assigned group work. The primary purpose of this course is to improve students'
understanding of the principles of small group communication so that they may
function more effectively in groups. This course is designed to allow students
to learn how to actively engage in groups and improve their group communication
skills through actual weekly group participation. The knowledge gained about
groups, along with experiences participating in groups, will help students to
become more comfortable, and more competent participants in the group
communication process. This class will include learning through group work,
interactive lectures, reading required text, weekly reflections and or quizzes
on lectures and the textbook, and written assignments. Students final project
will be to work in a semester long group where they create a community based learning
project. Their projects will be displayed to educate the campus on their
experiences and findings.

Required Text:
There is not a required text for this semester. However, students will be required to engage in required weekly readings selected by the instructor. These readings will have assignments due the following week.

Required Materials:
Studentswill need a three ring binder to keep all handouts, reading andassignments. This is crucial and will be collected weekly and graded.

Students need to bring their lap top to each class meeting. Lap tops will be used
throughout our class meetings.

Students need to have access to a video recorder

Introduction to Course:
In our college years and
well beyond, we must be able to communicate successfully with groups of people.
Group projects and assignments have become a standard in the college classroom.
When students are actively involved in a process, they learn the most.
Researchers show that, regardless of the subject matter, students working in
small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than
when the same content is presented in other instructional formats. Furthermore,
students who work in collaborative groups also appear more satisfied with their
classes. Although the benefits of collaborative learning are enormous, students
are often filled with dread when they are assigned group work. The primary
purpose of this course is to improve students' understanding of the principles
of small group communication so that they may function more effectively in
groups. This course is designed to allow students to learn how to actively
engage in groups and improve their group communication skills through actual
weekly group participation. The knowledge gained about groups, along with
experiences participating in groups, will help students to become more
comfortable, and more competent participants in the group communication
process. This class will include learning through group work, interactive
lectures, reading required handouts, weekly reflections/blogs and exams on
lectures and the readings/handouts, and written assignments.
Students final projectwill be to work in a semester long group where they create a community based learning project.

Course Description:
The primary purpose of this course is to improve students' understanding of collaborative learning andcommunicating and functioning more effectively in small groups.

Specifically, this course is designed to:
(1) help students become familiar with major theory and research in group communication and (2) allow students toexperience the challenge of learning how to improve their group communication skills through actual participation in groups. The knowledge gained aboutgroups, along with experiences participating in groups, will help students to become more comfortable, and more competent participants in the group communication process.

This course examines basic verbal and nonverbal elements which affect communication between individuals in a variety of group contexts: the family, the social peer group, and the work group. Topics include: a) an introduction to small group theory;
b) problem solving and decision making; c) team building; d) group
communication facilitation; e) communication climate; f) conflict management;
g) ethics in group communication; h) leadership; I) roles, norms, status, and
power; and j) how to make small group presentations.

Course Objectives:
Specifically, this course will help you:

Understand the theories and principles of group communication that are the basis for a variety of group communication situations.

Improve your problem solving and decision making skills.

Understand what important roles you and other members of your group can play in the
group communication process.

Learn appropriate ways to assume a leadership role.

Improve conflict management skills.

Develop your skills in understanding, analyzing, and evaluating small group
communication.

Learn how to effectively participate in a group project, which involves goal
setting, planning, and presenting an organized presentation.

Acquire skills necessary for group communication in the organizational setting.




Class Organization:
Each week students will actively engage and participate in class lectures as well as assigned group work. Students will be involved in lectures and group work. Participation in this course is the key to successful learning. Most weeks we will have power point presentations related to communication. We will also engage in group work and discussion.

Each week students will have assigned readings and blog assignments
that they must complete. Additiaonlly students will have other assignments to complete oh group/team development and development of team leadership skills. Assignments will alwaysbe due the week after they are given unless otherwise noted. Blog reflectionsneed to be posted by Friday at 12:00am and reflections to responses (2student’s reflections) will be due on Sunday at 12:00am. Students must bring a copy of their blog posting toclass each week and hand in to the peer mentor. Students that do not do this, will not get credit for blog assignments. Students are expected to be completely prepared for class and to participate fully in all activities. The work that students hand in is to be their best work.

Course Components and Grading
Success
It is best to set asidesome time each day to review your notes, study and practice new concepts, read weekly readings and complete blog assignments. Learning to communication effectively takes practice. Analyze your communication methods daily and strive to apply what you are learning in class to all areas of your life.

Class participation, preparation, and attendance: 20%

The only way to become proficient in as a communicator
is is through frequent practice, and it does take time. Because I expect you to make use of every opportunity to practice in the classroom, plan on using participating and communicating with the instructor, peer mentor as well as with other members of the class.

Participation:
Students are expected to attend each class and participate in a meaningful
manner daily. Attendance and class participation are an important part of the final course grade. Every class meeting I and the peer mentor will assign each student a class participation grade. This is inherently a subjective evaluation that I will make based upon my observations of the behaviors noted below.

I will qualify these grades with a “–” or a “+” as appropriate. Participation includes volunteering answers and comments as well as asking questions. It also includes sharing writings with the class, arrival on time and staying through the entire class, and successful communication.

A: participates readily, assignments completed,
works diligently, does not stray from the task in group/partner work, uses time
wisely if completes an in-class activity ahead of the rest of the class,
contributes positively to the class. It is extremely obvious that the student has come to class prepared and is making every effort to participate.

B: participates often, assignments completed,
works on the task in group/partner work without significant distraction, uses
time wisely as much as possible, contributes positively to the class. It is apparent that the student has prepared for class. However, the
level of participation is not as high as noted above.

C: makes a small effort to participate,
assignments completed, distraction from the task in group/partner work is
evident. The student appears to make little effort to contribute to full class or small group activities, but can respond when called upon.

Note that for the above grades the
student is taking the initiative to participate in class.

D: no real effort to participate is noted. Incomplete assignments or working to completethem just before class begins. Student appears apathetic about learning and practicing; when called upon he or she does not know where we are. It is
apparent that student spent little time preparing for class.

F: does not participate, assignments for class
are not completed or is working on it while class is already in progress,
student is unable to participate in class activities or declines to do so. No effort is apparent. Student is absent either physically or mentally. Student is attending to electronic communications during class.

Leaving class early or arriving late will always have a negative effect upon the daily grade.

Please turn off your cell phone or other electronic communications equipment during class. Checking messages or texting during class is
highly disrespectful to the instructor and other students in the class and will
result in a substantial class participation penalty (F for the day). If this
continues to be a problem, 5% will be taken from the student’s final grade.

Attendance:
A waiver of the “0” will be granted at the discretion of the instructor in emergency situations. The “0” will also be waived if the student must miss class due to an official CSS-sponsored activity, with advance
warning.


Weekly Read/Discussion Questions 10%:
Each week students will be given a weekly read packet. This is to be read and the assignment completed before class the following week.
Incomplete or extremely poorly done work will not receive any credit. I expect you to turn in assignments that show that you have taken the time to do them, and you have thought about what you are doing. Late assignments will notbe accepted unless the student was absent (EXCUSED). It is up to the student to turn in the assignment at the beginning of the period the first day the studentreturns to class. Emailing these assignment after the class period will not recieve full credit. I will decide if any credit is granted at all. Work that is not typed will not recieve credit. No exceptions.



Blog/Vlog Assignments 20%:
Weekly students will be required to post comments on our weekly blog/vlog. Posts will be posted on Monday afternoon. Students are equired to comment on my posting by Thursday at 12:00 am and then comment on another studentscomment by Sunday at 12:00am. Comments must be grammatically correct, intellectual, professional, and insightful. Some of our postings will be signed and others will be written. Students must show critical thinking in their responses. Simply agreeing or disagreeing is not efficient for credit.

Group Assignments: 12%
Team Building Assignment Due: October 9th
Applying Theory to Practice #1 Due: October 16
Applying Theory to Practice #2 Due: the week after project is delivered to your assigned group

Digntas Labs: 4%
http://www.css.edu/Academics/Dignitas/Dignitas-Labs.html

Requirements: Dignitas students are required to attend 4 Dignitas Labs (1 lab from each of the themes listed below) by attending two each semester. Each Lab is coded with one of the following themes:

Holistic Growth (HG)
Intercultural Competence (IC)
Responsibility to Community (RC)
Benedictine Heritage (BH)

After attending a lab: Students are required to fill out the Dignitas Lab Reflection form and turn it in to their respective professor. The form can be found here: http://resources.css.edu/dignitas/docs/reportform-LABS.pdf


Exams: 20%.
There will be 2 lesson tests given upon the completion of lessons:
Power points, discussions, weekly reads and blogs. Each test will cover all materials
covered in class. Students absent on a test day will receive a “0” unless
previous arrangements have been made.

Exam #1: Oct. 30, Weeks 1-8
Exam #2: Take Home Exam
Due: Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 12:00

Final Exam: 14%
Group Oral Presentation
Students will present a community based project to the class during weeks 14 and 15

Grade Sheet
Dignitas: The Responsible Self

Name____________________________________________________________________________________

Paricipation/attendance_____%

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F


Blogs_________%

#1_____/10 #2_____/10 #3_____/10 #4_____/10 #5_____/10 #6_____/10 #7_____/10

#8_____/10 #9_____/10 #10_____/10 #11_____/10 #12_____/10 #13_____/10

#14_____/10 #15_____/10


Weekly Reads_________%

#1_____/10 #2_____/10 #3_____/10 #4_____/10 #5_____/10 #6_____/10 #7_____/10

#8_____/10 #9_____/10 #10_____/10 #11_____/10 #12_____/10 #13_____/10

#14_____/10 #15_____/10


Labs__________%

#1_____/10 #2_____/10

Group Assignments __________%

Team Building_____/_____
Applying Theory to Practice #1_____/_____
Applying Theory to Practice #2_____/_____

Exams__________%

Exam #1_____/_____
Exam#2_____/_____


Oral Presentation__________%

Oral Presentation _____/_____