ASSIGNMENT 1

Create an agenda for a team meeting on a topic of your choice.

Draw from your own experience working within a group with the goal of achieving a specific task. You may use your experience as a student working in a group, or develop a plan for a future learning team.

Include specific items requiring group discussion and consensus.

Write a 200- to 350-word summary of the following:

• In a virtual meeting, how can you ensure a group is communicating effectively?

• How can you ensure that each team member understands what next steps are required to achieve the meeting's goals?

• What are the characteristics of effective teams?

• How do roles, needs, and diversity affect teamwork? Provide specific examples.

• What are components of group diversity?

Format your assignment according to appropriate course-level APA guidelines.

ASSIGNMENT 2

Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word summary of your responses to the following, after completing the collaborative discussion associated with the "Planning a Playground and "Politics of Sociology" videos.

Resources: Ch. 7, 8, and 9 of Communicating in Small Groups, and the Week 3 videos, "Planning a Playground" and "Politics of Sociology"

Group Interaction

• How clear was the intent of the discussion?

• How prepared were your group members for the discussion?

• Did everyone participate equally in the discussion?

• Were group members open to different points of view?

• How would you describe the overall climate of the discussion?

• Did you feel your group was productive in the discussion? Did you use the time efficiently?

• What strategies can you use in future discussions to increase productivity and outcomes?

• What approach will you take next time to increase group cohesion?

Video Analysis - "Planning A Playground"

• What are the issues in this meeting?

• What did they do well as a group?

• Can you identify constructive or deconstructive conflict occurring in this group? What are some key indicators? What conflict styles do you see?

• Based on what you learned this week, how might you handle this situation differently?

Video Analysis - "The Politics of Sociology"

• What are the issues in this meeting?

• What did they do well as a group?

• What types of conflict do you see in this video? Provide examples.

• There is a clear leader in this video. What can he do to be a better leader for this group?

• Based on what you learned this week, how might you handle this team situation differently?

Format your assignment according to appropriate course-level APA guidelines.