Student Suggestions for Learning Team Survival


Advice For Future Victims...I Mean Students
 
So, you brave souls have decided to embark upon this journey called Com 281.   Luckily, I have almost finished that journey and have some advice for you to help you along your trek.

First, at the begginning, Dr. Lane provides each group with only one copy
of most of the assignments.  Since you are a group it is neccessary for all of you to have a copy.  You will find that the person with the copy gets ordained the leader.  As you will later learn, this is sometimes bad because having the the same leader in a group  isn't always a good thing. It can lead to groupthink (which, in one instance, is when everyone falls into the trap of thinking like the leader just because they are the leader).  Also, when Dr. Lane hands out "The Red Folder" containing some of the assignments and guidelines for the group, he just randomly picks a person in your group to give it to.  As mentioned, this person sometimes is
deemed the leader.  You do not know if this person is dependable or not.  So, it is helpful if more than one person has the assignment.  Plus, if all of the members have the assignment, they will have all be aware it in the same way (not through hearsay, etc...).  Therefore, the group goal will be the same since, everyone is aware of the same problem.  In fact, we ran into this in our group - The Six Pack.  We got tired of having to ask Mike, the one with the red folder, about exactly what we were doing.  We kept having to pass around the assignment sheet that only he had.  While each was reading, they would miss the conversation going on.  That is if the members had any idea what was going on.

Secondly, DO NOT let conflict get in the way of your group.  It can be detrimental to your group as I am sure you already know from life experiences.  As you will later learn, conflict is a good thing in problem-solving, but bad in the relationships between the members.  The class is centered around the group, so it is neccessary that the members get along.  You spend a lot of time with your group - trust me!  From your group experience to the workshop to all the small assignments you must complete, you must meet outside of class quite often.  If one  has problems with another member, that member might seclude themself from the group or develop alterior motives of getting back or purposly disagreeing with that member.  This results in the task not getting accomplished, and the team to not be productive.

Lastly, DO NOT bring previous group baggage with you.  In previous groups, the groups probobly did not care about what they were doing.  However, from the very begginning, Com 281 creates this whole class around group communication.  It forces you into group communication - effective group communication at that.  The class teaches you effective group communication, and reinterates it at a fun, hands-on level.  Plus in previous groups, the groups probobly just met once in a class or something.
 But this class takes it seriously by compossing a whole class on it, and teaching you how to be a better group member.  By learning these, you have some idea of what to do in a group and how to make a bad group a good one. As always, if you are educated on the subject and know a little about it, you are one up on everyone else, and will probobly enjoy the experience a
lot more.  So, that is my advise for all you victims out there...Oh, sorry.  I meant students.  This class is a lot of work, but you get to meet lots of people, and it is fun to boot.

Whitney Breeding    November 20, 1997
 

This assignment is to offer some helpful hints to anyone thinking of taking small group communications.  Thinking of these tips was very easy, as there are many components to small group communications that are essential for an effective experience.  Perhaps the most important thing to remember before diving into the course work is to accept your group for who they are and to listen to their ideas in an objective manner.  As you will learn later in the coarse, it is the diversity between members that fosters an effective group process.

At the outset your group will seem very foreign to you.   Do not be discouraged by this.   Motivate yourself to initiate conversation with your group members, the sooner you get to know them the sooner you will grow to like them.  Encourage your group as much as possible.   Enthusiasm towards course work and projects is an essential part of your grade in Com 281.  The more enthusiastic you are about working on group projects the more fun they become. Put in the extra effort.   Look at the course not just as a requirement, but as a valuable class.  Information taught in this course is highly applicable in everyday life.   The more information you get out of the class the more you can put to use for you in the real world.

Pick a good group experience.  The importance of the group experience goes beyond the grade your team receives on the manual.  This experience and others like it will form the cohesive bond that will allow your group to function effectively.   Under no circumstances should you compromise this assignment by just doing something that will get you by, pick an effective group activity and your team will be paid great dividends.

My last suggestion for anyone taking the course is simple.   Have as much fun with the class as possible.

Chris Griffith    Com 281    11/19/97


 Throughout this semester I have learned a great deal of important information on communicating in small groups.  This information can be very helpful to students who are entering this class next semester.  In this journal entry I will highlight some of the key points that would benefit a student's small group. One thing I would advise next year's students to do is spend time out of
class doing fun activities together.  I realize that schedules are hectic, but if a group can get together every now and then group cohesiveness will grow.  This allows a group to spend time getting to know each other in a low stress atmosphere.  Members will learn more about each other and take a greater interest in the group.  They will feel more comfortable around each other and feel more freedom to give ideas they have on certain assignments.  Usually this will help members take a greater interest in the groups needs and increase the mutuality of concern.

Another piece of advice I would give is to be encouraging to one another. This does not mean that you have to agree with group members just to avoid conflict.  When group members suggest ideas you don't like tell them so in a considerate manner.  Treat them with respect and everyone will get along much better.  This will also allow members to share more ideas because they
will not feel threatened of being verbally embarrassed.

A third tip I would attempt to follow if at all possible is to make sure everyone in your group does an equal amount of work.  If this is the case a lot of conflict will be avoided and members who do work won't be taken advantage of.  Also it is more likely that a democratic leadership style will be used if this does occur and I feel that style is very productive. When this style is used everyone helps with the outcome and group cohesiveness is often strengthened.  No one person takes charge and everyone has to give ideas and help in reaching the goal.

A final thing I would advise to incoming students would be to establish certain rules and norms as early as possible in the group.  This way the group has more structure and is better able to stay on task and accomplish what needs to be done.  Also this will help reduce uncertainty.  Group members will know what they will be punished for and what they can "get
away with".

These suggestions will be extremely helpful if used by incoming students. If I would have known these things upon entering this class many problems could have been avoided in my small group.  This advice may seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth the effort and the time.

Stephanie Buchanan


There are a few key pointers that I will now give to future Com 281 students.  I had never taken a class that depended on group efficiency to this extent in my life.  I was happily surprised at the development of group unity and cohesion, however, group work also had its drawbacks.  One important thing I hope they figure out early on in the class is to listen to one another.  Give time for each person to speak because everyone is filled with interesting and stimulating ideas.  Next, I would remind them to try to stay as focused on the task as possible.  Although we had a tremendous amount of fun with my group, World Domination, we definitely
spent too much extra time on irrelevant topics.    Group discussion is always fun and a good way to relieve stress, but don't let it stray you too far away from the assignment at hand.  Finally, make good use of class time.  Dr. Lane devotes a significant amount of class time to group assignments and it is a prime opportunity to work on group organization and cohesion.  The more class time you waste, the more time you will be working into the late hours of the night.  I hope you all take my advice and enjoy a successful venture into the exciting world of small group communication.

Massoumeh Emami    Com 281


Optimal group experiences are achievable in this class.  Attendence and participation are two things you should focus on.  Before the upcoming semester, I would like to make each of you aware of what to expect from the class and how to be successful in it.  You can expect a lot of constructive work that helps to relate the text as you continually read it throughout
the semester.  Dr. Lane also has many fun exercises that you will participate in (that will also contribute to your learning) as the semester wears on.  Therefore, I encourage attendance so you will not miss out on any of these interesting activities.  You will be placed on a team, that you will work with the entire semester, after the first couple of classes.

Get to know these people because you will be working with them and seeing a lot of them for the next four months; who knows, you may even develop a friendship.  As for your groups that will develop into teams, there are several things you should be aware of so that your team can function in a cohesive, orderly and efficient fashion.  The first, general thing you should do is get to know your group.  By doing this, it will be easier to communicate and work with them.  Next, your entire group should help establish rules and goals for the group.  The rules, whatever they may be, will sort of guide you throughout the semester.  The goals you set, will
help you strive for the accomplishment of tasks and assignments throughout the semester.

The last and probably the most important thing I can recommend for you is communication.  Talk to each other.  Let your group
members know if something is bothering you or if you appreciate something. Communication can be the glue that holds your group together or it can be a major factor in tearing your group apart.  Communication is what this class is all about.  It will teach you how to work within groups and how to communicate, not only in this class, but in all of your classes.  As you finish the semester, you will realize that the information learned through this class is not something that you will soon forget or want to forget. You will remember this as it helps you earn your degree and as you venture out into the "real world" and get a job.  The knowledge gained from this class can be used throughout your life.  Communication and cooperation are the keys to your group developing into a team.  Hopefully, my little summary will help your group experience be an enjoyable one.

Brian Pingel     11/24/97 


Survival Tips for Com 281

Attend every class if possible. It is important to go to every class in order to take the tests, as well as participate in the application activity.  It is not only important to your grade but also to the group grade.

Read the chapters carefully. Take notes and pay attention in class. This will definitely effect your score on the individual as well as the team RATs.

Talk to your group members. Let them know your likes and dislikes. The more  you communicate within your group, the more cohessive your group will become.

Do your best to work with others in your group. We all realize that everyone does not share the same viewpoint as you, so relax when conflict occurs and work it out through constant communication.

When a project requires out of class work with your group, do your best to meet at a time when all members can make it. We understand the difficulty of  choosing a time when all members can meet, but be flexible and try your best to be there. Also, remember when the group is very prepared for the assignment,  then the reward (a good grade) makes it worth the hard work.

Have fun! This class is meant for the student to learn about small group communication, as well as have fun while learning. Get to know your group  members and work together as a team on your activities. You will hardly notice how long you have been in the classroom because time flies when you're having fun.

Brittany


Advice to incoming team members:

1. This class is harder then you think and involves a greater time commitment then you will allow.
2. You will become very close to your group, whether you like them or not, so get to know them before you pass judgment.
3. This class is fun, but you can not afford to miss anything.  Do not plan on getting work for any other class done or catching extra sleep.
4. Do not stress out about assignments. It seems like a lot of work but your group will figure it out and do a good job.
5. Know that your group will be working together, a lot. Do not try to avoid it. Do not try to do your own thing. The more cohesive you are the better you will do in the class.
6. Towards the end of the semester you begin to realize that all along you were being graded on how well the group could handle things as a group. Get things done as a group and do not worry about presenting profound new theories to the class. Dr. Lane is not handing out Nobel prizes, he just wants to see how close the six of you will come to killing each other while still discovering solutions to a problem.

 The main thing to remember is that this class will be what you make of it. If you refuse to regard your group as anything more then a jumble a annoying, back stabbing bastards who will never be on your level, this class will be the worst hell you have ever experienced. Walk in with a good attitude. You will have more fun in this class then any other class you take, I promise. Listen to what the other group members have to say and try to empathize with them. They really are not bad people and you will find that you share at least some similar ideas or interests. Inevitably you will get along better with some group members than others, but do not disregard those you rarely see eye to eye with. Their input will prove just a beneficial as anyone else’s. Remember some basic rules, because the book assumes you already know them, like being nice to people. Dr. Lane likes “nice” and your group will to and it will make you feel all worm inside.

Carlie Shannon        Nov. 20, 1997 


To whom it may concern:

Well, hello there.  I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Byron "B.K." Maynard.  The fall semester of 1997, I took COM 281, and I just thought I would give you a little advice on how to make your group experience work.  First, if you will notice, I made sure to introduce myself right at the beginning.  That is a good way to greet the people in your group.  Do not wait until someone asks you your name, take the initiative.  Which brings me to another point.  Don't be shy when it comes to group discussions or meetings (or even just sitting around talking in class).  This will help assure that you get input into each of the assignments, and I think it will show the rest of your group that you are interested in what is going on.

That brings me to yet another point.  Try to make sure that your group tries to keep things interesting.  If all your group ever does is sit around and do only classwork, it will be easy to get bogged down.  You will probably get tired of seeing them, because your
meetings will be so boring.  Have your group to get together and not even worry about things for class.  Not only will it make it seem like you are not always working on class stuff, but it will help out the cohesion in the group.
 If you don't remember anything else I have said, remember this; have fun. I know that that sounds kinda stupid, when talking about a class, but I am serious.  This class can be enjoyable, if you let it.  Do not be afraid to make friends in your group. (Maybe even make friends with people from other groups...Shhh!)  If you come into this class thinking of it as just another class, it will be; but, if you show up to have a good time, you will.  One more suggestion, try not to take the 8 AM section.

Sincerely,
B.K. Maynard

ps: You wouldn't happen to be taking this class just to keep from taking public speaking, would you?

From the great people at Big Kid Productions TM.  Always bringing you new and exciting products. 


I have learned valuable information from communication 281.  I was not sure what to expect when I signed up for the
class but it was a much more enjoyable class than I predicted.  I choose this class because I did not want to take a public speaking class that would require me to stand in front of the room and give speeches.  Also, I am a psychology major and communication in small groups was a topic that was interesting to me.   There a few things that would be helpful to an incoming student.

First, have an open mind.  The entire semester will be spent with one group of people and if you do not have an open mind it will be hard to get along with them. It is the groups responsibility to turn in homework and achieve a desirable grade so if you do not get along this class will be difficult.  An open mind will help you understand others easier.

Second, the class load may seem tough but it is not a difficult as it appears.  I was surprised a little with the amount of work but as I look back it was not as difficult as I thought initially thought.  I suggest that when you get assignments do not wait until the last minute to complete them.  It is possible to do that but what makes it difficult is trying to get all group members together the night before a project is due.  Also, if you want to achieve an A the quality of your project would improve if you started it earlier than the night before.

First, create a plan of exactly whose going to do what and then decide if you need to get together and when everyone would be available.  Our group only met outside of class probably a total of three times the entire semester which I feel is acceptable for a
200 level communication class.  The work load may seem tough initially but it is not as bad as it may look.

Finally, complete your group experience project early in the semester.  One reason why is because you need some time to decide what your group is going to do together.  If your group wants to do something fun it might take a little more planning than a last minute decision.  Also, the group experience project is a chance for members to get together outside of the classroom situation.  This is important because it gives members a chance to interact in a situation that they would not normally be in and creates new
conversation.  The group has experiences that create bonds in the group which makes it easier when you have to work on graded projects.  It becomes easier because members are more on the friend level than the "we have to work together because we put in the groups and we need a good grade" level.

Communication 281 has taught me a lot of valuable information that I can use in real world situations.  I enjoy taking classes that are useful to real life situations.  I suggested a few things that might be helpful to incoming students but I do not think that anyone will have any difficulties with this class.

Kimberly Caporaso    November 28, 1997


Some suggestions that I have for next semester's class would be to make sure that you get to know everyone well in your group.  If everyone in your group is comfortable with one another it will help to make everything the group does much more enjoyable and the group will run smoothly and more efficiently.  Another suggestion that I have for next semester's class is to make sure that you include all the group members in everything the group comes up with.  Because if you don't let a group member speak or don't encourage another group member then that more than likely will cause group conflict and friction, which you don't want.  The final suggestion that I have is to make sure that your effort in the class is 110%, because other people are counting on you to help the group out because that effects their grade too.  So that by itself should be a little extra incentive.

Brian Clark    11/20/97 


Dr. Lane,

 Hi!  How was your week?  Mine was great sleeping in.  Here is my advice to your COM 281 students next semester.

Your Destiny Is In Dr. Lane's Hands!!

My advice to all Com 281 students would be first of all to read!!!  Just  because it is a group effort does not mean you can rely on your group to carry you through the semester.  Next, I think it is very important to deal with  problems as they arise and not wait for them to pan out by themselves. Trust me, this will not happen.  If you have a lazy member in your group confront them
as soon as possible and see what it takes to motivate them.  If you cannot figure out what motivates them, you might want to threaten them.  Make sure your other group members have your back though!!!

It is also very important to have cooperation of the other students. If  their is no cooperation, there is no team work and you will spend your life in the lonliness of group work!  Along with cooperation, support is almost a must.

With the support of your team members you can accomplish anything (which you will be asked to do in Dr. Lane's class!).

Well, are you scared yet?  Really, there is nothing to worry about. As  long as you talk to Dr. Lane and let him know what is going on with you, things will work out just fine.  Heck, I must have really enjoyed his class, I have asked for him as my advisor.  Gosh, now my destiny lies in his hands too!

Corbitt Carter


Dear future small group communication student,

Though you may have very negative feelings about working in groups in the classroom right now, you will soon find that working as a team can be extremely rewarding.  There are, however, a few things you can do to ensure that your group will function to its fullest potential. One very important thing you can do to improve cohesion is to make sure every group member shares their individual goals with the rest of the group.  For example, if there is a group member who has a goal of not having to meet in the evenings, it's a good idea for him to alert the rest of the group of this. This way, the group won't plan an evening meeting and won't think the group member is mad at the group when he doesn't participate.  Another important thing I've learned in my experience with this class is that encouraging every member to participate in a discussion will greatly improve the efficiency of the team.  Some of the most soft-spoken group members have wonderful ideas most of the time, but they must feel very comfortable in their environment in order for them to speak up.  It's very important that each member feels wanted and feels like he's an important contributor to the group.  Finally, try not to let one person dominate the group and become too powerful a leader.  If this happens, the other group members may be resentful of the leader, and may be reluctant to do anything to please him. Also, the leader may feel obligated to take control in all situations, even when he doesn't feel comfortable with the task at hand. Your group will function much better if the leadership roles are spread out among the members.  Well, I hope you find these suggestions helpful.  Good luck and please, whatever you do, don't try to start your communication analysis paper the night before it's due.  It took me at least 2 days to do, and I felt like a hermit because I stayed at my computer so long.

Have fun,
                 Corree Richmond


Dear Students,
 I know you are probably wondering what you got yourself into. Some teacher who has the whole semester planned out the day you walk in. OH, BOY!  Well, my first advice is that if you cannot attend class and work with other people, drop the class.  But, if you want to take the best class you will ever take and learn some valuable things, then stick with the class.  One way to optimize your group experience is to do projects ahead of time.  The most important things you can do in your group is be open, respectful, honest, and active in participation.

One thing that can help your group in becoming cohesive and efficient is promptness.  If you are going to be in a group, the whole group needs to be present.  Going to class and showing up for group meetings will make your group function as a well- built cohesive team.

Secondly, do your part.  Do not let someone in the group do all the work.  The objective of this class is to  learn how to work in groups. I emphasize the word “learn” and “work.”  If you do not actively participate, you will not only get a lousy grade but lose respect of your teammates.  If you participate and do the work, you will be amazed at the knowledge you will obtain from working in a small group.

Third, proofread the work you turn in.  Dr. Lane has a major in English. So, if you want to get a good grade, try to remember to spell your words right and use correct grammer.  If you are not too good at English or grammer, use spellcheck!  This will be very valuable to the whole group.

There are many things that could help optimize your new group experience.  Participation, attendance, honesty, respect, and more are just a few things that will help achieve cohesiveness and mutuality of concern in your group.  Enjoy Dr. Lane’s class.  Your team knows the semester’s schedule. Take advantage of that and also Dr. Lane’s help.  Dr. Lane is more than happy to assist his students during class and during office hours.  So, take advantage of those opportunities.  If there is one more thing I would suggest for the good of your group and Dr. Lane, respect the other teams. If another group is talking to the class, listen and learn.  Try to realize that this class can offer you valuable lessons for group communication as well as life lessons. Most of all, enjoy the experience and get used to Dr. Lane saying ‘thanks.’  :) Dr. Lane knows alot.  If your group will listen, learn, and respect the class, it will be a very smart thing to do.  You have one of the best professors at UK.  Please take advantage of the opportunity. I did and I am very grateful.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
                                     Dana R. Alvey
                                             “THE BREAKFAST CLUB”


To the future students of COM 281: Communication in Small Groups,

     Wow!  What a great experience if you do it the right way!    I am currently a fifth year senior at the University of Kentucky.  I am supposed to graduate in one month with a BA in Communications.  I took COM 281 as a graduation requirement under my college but I seriously think that all students should take it even if it is not required.  I say this on the simple basis, everyone will be a member of a least one small group -- a family.  COM 281 encompasses a great deal of valuable information for someone to learn and then apply to the rest of his or her life.  As a result, I will leave you, the future students of small group communication, a few words of advice so that you will excel in learning very valuable, useful (for once in a college course you can use the information you learn actually outside of class) information in COM 281.

    My first words of advice is do you group experience AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  I cannot stress this enough.  From the very first day of class this assignment is made.  Once your group is formed, before doing anything else, decide what you want to do for your group experience and set a date that is sooner than later.  My group, this semester, went camping during the third week of school.  I feel that by doing our activity so early we gained an advantage over the other groups because we became very close very early on.  As a result, we worked well together all semester.
 
   Second, read, read, read.  Dr. Lane will tell you that this will be the first text book you will read cover to cover -- he isn't lying.  It really was the first book I had while I was in college.  During the semester you will take 10 RAT tests (If your reading this you already know what that stands for).  In the beginning, the tests are not that difficult, you might even get away with not reading one or two chapters if you have a communication background, but the become more difficult as the semester progresses.  So basically, read the entire chapter before the RAT test (yes, before the morning of).

     My final words of advice is take the class seriously.  Even if you are taking the class as a requirement you will never learn more in a college class while you are at the University of Kentucky or anywhere else.  Take control of your own learning, stay on task, do not get behind, and have a great semester!

Sincerely,
Laura Luciano


Probably the first thing that I would want to share with people that are going to be taking this course would be the importance of having group cohesion.  The class may seem sort of foolish in the beginning, but in reality it teaches you some very important skills that you will need later in life.  But you won't get the most out of the class unless your group gets along.  Not only that, but if your group doesn't get along then these next few months will seem like an eternity.  Start to get to know your group on the first day that you all are together.  It may be that everyone in your group is shy around people they don't know very well.  If that's the case then I'm afraid that you're going to have to be the brave one and start a conversation.  By just talking to each other you will begin the
process which will hopfully transform your group into a functioning team.

One specific thing that I would recommend doing would be to do your group experience as soon as you can.  We did ours fairly early in the semester and because of that our group became very close in a very short amount of time.  We went camping, and that is something that I would recommend any group doing that has someone that knows even a little bit about camping. That activity will probably be the single most important activity of the entire semester.  Not only is it worth a lot of points, but it's also when the group starts to form real cohesion.

The last thing that I would recommend doing would be to confront problems within the group early in the semester.  Talk with your other group members or even the professor if need be.  It's better to confront problems early than to have them affect your performance later in the semester.

Go into the class with an open mind.  I was very skeptical at first, but not only did I end up enjoying the class, I also got four friends out of it.

Kent Coombs


In Com-281, communication in small groups, there are several things that I would have done in the beginning of the class. These things include meeting outside of class sooner, freeing up more time for the class, and making a calender at the beginning. If these things were done at the beginning of the class, group cohesion would form quicker and groups would be able to plan and work more efficiently. The sooner the group meets outside of class the quicker group cohesion forms because members feel freer to act like their selves. Also, the class takes hours upon hours of meeting and working outside of class, so group members need to form their schedules around this conflict. The time issue could be helped; if in the beginning of the class all of the project dates and the average time of completing the projects were compiled into a calender. This would allow each group member to form their work schedule around these events.
These three suggestions should optimize the group experience by making the group more cohesive and work more efficiently.

David Mattingly


The advice I have to offer future students in Com 281 so they can better enjoy their experience is fairly simple.  First, I would reccomend keeping attitudes positive throughout.  They will learn cohesion is easy to destroy, and will see many exaples of negative behavior in the book.  The "Ineffective groups do" and "ineffective group members say" categories will be something to keep track of.  Do not let members make negative comments.  Find a comfortable place to meet and a time that suits everyone.
Having a regular time and place makes it easy one group members who have to adjust schedules to meet with the group.  Our group utilized the 6th floor of the Nursing Building and found that location helpful.  Remember it is not as bad as it seems.  In the beginning of the semester the projects and logistics of getting everyone together might seem overwhelming, but they will be surpirsed how well things can go when everyone has a regular time and place to meet and accomplish tasks.  Having faith in your group will help you make it through the assignments.  Have your groups meet together outside of task related meetings.
After our paintball experience my group simplly at some food at Denny's, but it was a good experience which we never repeated.  Looking back, I feel we would have enjoyed this experience more if we had gone and had some fun together a few times.
 Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" sings "Have faith in you and the things you do, and you won't go wrong"  Know that what you have to offer your group is great, and you are a positive group member who brings good things to your group.  Take your responsibilities seriously, go to all the classes and all the group meetings, but go with self confidience and some faith in your abilities to be a good group member.  Do not feel everyone is better and you have nothing to contribute, and remember I'm not saying be
cocky or arrogent, but be confident.

I think these tips will be helpful because one of the more important factors I have found that affects the group is the general attitudes of group members.  Being confident, and keeping things positive have been a great help during this semester.

David Kinstle


There are three things that come to mind when thinking about what will optimize the group experience in com281.  They are a good attitude entering the class, giving 100 percent in every task, and being respectful to everyone else's ideas.  When I came to class on the first day, I was very upset to here about all the different projects and assignments that each group had to preform.  I considered dropping this course and trying to take a different communications course.  The only problem with this idea was that Dr. Lane was teaching the only other sections that would comply with my work and class schedule.  Therefore, to graduate, I bit the bullet and stayed in the class.  I am glad I did.  I have learned a great deal from this course.  And, as far as the work is
concerned, it is not as hard and time consuming as it seems at the start.  Therefore, have a good attitude from the beginning and hang in there.  Your good attitude will not only help you get through the semester, but will also bolster the groups morale.

Along with this, you must give 100 percent in every task that Dr. Lane presents to the group.  The more effort you put into the task, the more you will learn from it.  This effort that you put forth will also influence the other group members.  If they see you working hard, they will be more willing to give more effort.

Finally, when you are in your groups and you are trying to solve a problem, be attentive to everyone's ideas.  Do not try to push your own ideas off on everyone else if they are trying to give their own input.  If you push your ideas off on others, then you can effect the group in two ways.  One, the best idea may not be yours, it may be someone else's.  Also, the best idea could be one that was not discussed, because of your over assertiveness.  Two, you could anger other group members by not allowing them to get their ideas across.  This obviously has a negative affect on group cohesiveness.

I hope this helps with your preparedness for this course.  Good luck.

David Crutchfield


Dear Spring Semester COM 281 Class,

To start, this is a great class.  Not only academically, but in terms of meeting new people and gaining new friends. There are a couple of things to remember while taking this class, to become a more cohesive group.  Do not solely concentrate on class
topics, but have a little fun, do something stress relieving, with each other.  There should be no problem joking around and keeping your sanity.

Another thing is to be able to utilize class time for projects. Our group made it a point to try our hardest to complete task, as much as we could, in class.  The more you get done in class, the less stress you have throughout the semester.

The last thing is to set guidelines and/or rules for the group.  If everyone in the group lets other group members know what type of person they are the group can come to a consensus on what rules to enforce.  This way nobody steps on any toes.  Mutual respect goes a long way, especially when dealing with small groups.

That is all I have for you guys.  Have fun, we did.

 Darren Smith
        "The Breakfast Club"

P.S.  Study your butt off for those RAT's.


 ere are some of the things that would have helped me be better prepared for the Small Groups Communications course...

1.  Be a good listener.  Always let your other group members finish what they have to say before you give your opinion.  Be careful not to step on your other member's toes, and make sure you always let them say what they have to.  Listen more and talk less!

2.  Be prepared to take a lot of time out of class to work on group projects.  Always try to meet when your group wants to.  Be cooperative in giving up your own personal time to work on class projects.  Everyone else in your class is giving up their personal time, and so should you.

3.  Compromise.  If you feel strongly about something, tell your other group members.  However, if some disagree be willing to compromise and find a solid middle ground that everyone agrees on.  Don't be stubborn and give in a little when the group needs harmony.

4.  Get each other involved in out of class activities.  The one thing that really got our group cohesion off the ground was our group experience.  Do something that no one has ever done, and do something really exciting.  Our group played paintball, and we really got into it.  That helped us get into the class.

5.  Be competitive!!  It makes the class so much more fun, and you will definitely be more willing to do a lot of outside work.  It makes your work fun to know that you are not only doing it for a grade, but to kick another team's ass.  Most importantly, make this class fun and get really competitive.

Beth Wookey
A-Team


Dear Students,

In Com281 I have learned ways I can enhance group experiences.  The most important thing I have learned and the topic Dr. Lane wanted us to tell you about is how to make a more cohesive group, thereby enhancing your group experience.  In the class we work exclusively in small groups to accomplish various tasks and reach certain goals.   The best way to ensure everyone is
satisfied with this experience is to find ways to make your group a more cohesive one.  There are a few ways to do this; make sure everyone pulls his/her own weight in the group, get to know everyone early in the semester, and be sure to talk about problems the group encounters as they occur.  In doing these things you will be comfortable in handling any task put before you and will be able to assign roles according to who can best accomplish them.  You will also work better and more efficiently as a team which will greatly enhance your group experience.

Sincerely,
Beth Privett


Over the past semester, I have found that working in groups can be an  enjoyable process if you take the right steps to make it so.  First of  all, it does take a little luck in the begining when you are put into your group.  Lucky for me, I had a group who were all easy to get along  with and added some great attributes to the experience.  At the start of the year, you will not know your group members very well so it is very important that you get off to a good start.  Being present  and doing your share of the work is important all semester long but can cause serious problems if it occurs early.  I noticed that one group had a problem with a couple of its members not wanting to be an active part of the group.  This led to some terrible problems throughout the year, hurting the groups cohesiveness and ability to function effectively.

Another tip to help your group do well, would be to have fun with the work.  There are plenty of assignments, both individual and group, so it is essential that you keep a positive attitude the whole semester.  One way to do this is to have fun by being creative and spontaneous with the work.  Just going through the motions of doing the assignments will get the work done, but you will get bored and might get sick of your group members if you can't have fun.

One last tip that I think is very important when working in a group is to monitor yourself.  Throughout the year, you will learn many of the task and maintanance roles that are performed in a group setting.  You should be able to identify the ones that you fill and do not fill.  This is important because it may help or hurt the group.  Try and be careful that your roles and personality help the group.  You may even want to ask group members through peer evaluations or direct questions what they think of your place in the group.  I have also noticed both in our group and in others that alot of conflict can come from personality problems. You do not have to change your personality and not be yourself, but adjust accordingly so that you contribute positive things to the group and not negatives.These tips have been things that I have noticed over the semester and have helped me get along better with my group, increasing our groups cohesiveness and allowed us to work more effectively.  At least I hope they worked. Most importantly, try to work with each other, keeping in mind that everyone is different than the other, and it takes a little bit of work to work as a group.

Hal Ligon


The most important piece of advice I could give to next semester's students is to get to know your group members.  You spend a significant amount of time with theses individuals and to not know them personally,hinders the group's potential cohesiveness.  In getting to know your group members, make sure that you are accepting of "new" people. These people may not be the type of crowd you are used to, however, I think that is usually what makes for a more enjoyable group experience.

When I reflect on this semester's group experience, I can honestly say that my group's cohesiveness leaves little room for improvement. Therefore, I will discuss what things we have done to become highly cohesive and efficient.

We joke around a lot which makes outside class meetings more personal and enjoyable.  This often leads us off task and we end up spending more time talking about other things.  However, we have managed to successfully complete all group projects and have had fun doing them.  All in all, I have loved the use of teams.

Thanks, and Good Luck,
Hollie Keller (Communications Junior)


The following ideas are provided as advice for next semester's students to optimize their group experience in COM 281. First of all, I think it is important to have an open mind when the group is initially formed. Do not immediately judge the people in your group, and try to get to know each of them. Also, don't dismiss this as another horrible group assignment. The projects in this class are designed for groups. It's not the same as just writing a group paper like you may have done in other classes. Another important thing to do is to meet early for group assignments. Don't schedule a group meeting at midnight the night before something is due.
Someone in the group will invariably not show up, and the project will suffer. Time is the worst enemy of the group, and good planning is the only way to solve this problem. Also, make sure everyone is included in group discussions and projects. Everybody in our group contributed and at least acted like they cared about our performance. This really helped us, especially in our last few assignments when enthusiasm was low. Finally, have a good time, and good luck.

Jack Ditty


My advice for next semesters students would be to spend quality time with your group.  Our group was cohesive to a point, but you need time outside of class to get to know each other.  We did our group experience as a whole team, but other than that or meeting early for class, we never socialized outside of the classroom.  Also, do not be judgmental of your team members.  Our team was comprised of totally opposite individuals, and it made it difficult not to judge each other.  Make the class fun and enjoy your group.  You only have a limited amount of time to spend with them and you may end up with a friend or two in the process.

Jaime Gray


   Future Com281 students, here are some ideas on how to make your experience in this class better and how to work more efficiently as a group.  My first piece of advice is, make the most of your group experience.  I know that it is time consuming and that it is difficult to find a time that will be convenient for all of the group members.  It is worth the extra effort to have a group experience that lasts a couple of hours, as opposed to one that lasts for forty-five minutes.  If you have a group experience that takes a couple of hours, your group will become closer and more cohesive earlier in the semester.

     Also, do not be afraid to volunteer to do work for your group.  Many times there will be group work that must be completed by an individual, such as typing a paper or making a visual aid for a presentation.  Your group will notice if you never volunteer to do the work and they may begin to resent the fact that you are not very willing to help the group. Make sure that no one in the group feels left out.  If there is one group member that does not talk during group meetings, direct questions to that person.  Do not allow that person to just sit there and not contribute anything to the group, and in the meantime feel left out.  Making this person contribute will benefit your group and this particular individual.  Your group will get its fifth group member back, and the
individual will feel that he or she is wanted in the group.

Jennifer Sapoff


 Dear Incoming Small Group Communication Students,

 I am currently taking small group communications and would like to tell you a few things you can expect to get out of a small groups course.  First of all, it should make for an interesting course.  I learned a great deal about how to interact in a small group.  My instructor gave us plenty of hands on assignments and because of this I was able to retain information.  I realize that in some courses students just remember information for a test then forget it.  Throughout the semester I felt that I retained a
great deal of the material we have gone over.   Since you will be working with people you have never meet before, I've decided to give a few of the things my group did to enable us to work better together.  We started off by setting goals for the semester.  (A
good grade, all assignments turned in on time, etc.)  We then came up with a way of reaching our goals.  (Arrive to meetings on time, call someone if you can not make a meeting, etc.) After we had our goals and a way of obtaining them, we started working toward them.  We did our best on every assignment.
 I suggest that you put some effort in this class.  When you graduate college and are thrown into the real world you will be asked (or told) to work with others that you do not know.  This class is excellent preparation for real world scenarios.  I wish you luck.

JIM BRADEN


Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is a bit of advice from an old general in Communications 281:  Communication in Small Groups.  I realize the anxieties and frustrations you will be feeling during your first day, because I was there exactly one year ago.  In order for you guys to be successful here are a few tips and some advice.

As you sit in the desks that my Com class sat in last year, you must realize that the communication necessary for efficient and effective group work does not come naturally.  A group only becomes a team once you learn how to communicate effectively.  There is not a single answer that will ensure effective communication; instead, your group should, first, focus on improving cohesion.  Cohesion is the attraction felt between each group member.  If each of your members feels comfortable with each other you are starting down the correct path.  There are many ways to improve cohesion.  Some of them include the group experience Dr. Lane will, inevitably, have you all perform.  This activity involves your group doing an activity that none have done before, but relies on the group working as team to accomplish the activity.  Ropes courses, group potluck dinners, or even electronic trivia that is available at restaurants, are examples of activities that your group can perform.  This assignment that Dr. Lane requires is a great way for your group to improve cohesion.

Activities are great for cohesion, but cohesion will develop during group interaction in the classroom.  Once your group learns the work habits, along with the information about individual members, you will be able to perform better and become closer to a team.  Performance in the classroom, and reliance on each other will once again improve cohesion, but there are times when conflict will arise.  Do not become discouraged, though.  Conflict can be used to set up norms, or rules, for the group.  It can also lead to more constructive solutions to the activities your group will perform.

Do not be afraid to share personal information with your group.  I do not mean telling your group every detail of your life, but it was very valuable if your group can connect to each other on a personal level.  If the one member shares a story, other members can connect to it.  These shared experiences will lead to the group developing an identity.  Identity is crucial for the group to stay together, and succeed in the future.  Without a group identity, no one shares a common goal, there is no common theme to initiate cohesion, and your group will never become a team.

This class isn’t the “impossible task” many of you think it is.  Instead, it is a chance to receive information on one of the most important tools you will work with in the future:  communication.  Whether it be in small groups or with you significant other, the material you will learn is applicable to almost everything.  So have fun, and open yourself to the experience of Communicating in Small Groups.

Jim Herr


Greetings prospective comm. 281 students.  Welcome to the world of small group communications.  You will be placed in a group of fellow students to simulate small groups outside of the classroom and to facilitate your own learning.  You will find being a part of a group to be an advantage over being alone.  However, your group must be a cohesive unit to thrive.  A team needs to form.  You might think this is easy to do, or it should come naturally with time.  Normally you would be right.  Problems may arise,
however,  in some groups as you will have diverse backgrounds among your classmates.  Different ethinicities, and more importantly, different values will place a strain on your group's cohesiveness.  It is vital your group remains cohesive as this is key to functioning and accomplishing tasks.Here are some tips to remain a cohesive unit.

1)  Attendance:  Make sure you make it to class and participate.  By not doing so, you show the other members of your group you do not care for them nor the team. You can see how this would pose a problem.  Be sure to make the others responsible for their attendance as well.  Our team set up a grading system with attendance as one of the requirements.

2)  Meet outside of the class:  Not only will you have fun (hopefully), but also you will build a team which knows each other better, and respects one another's ideas.  You will find by the end of the semester you can almost guess as to what each of your teammates are thinking.  This will encourage a cohesive atmosphere as there will be no time of uncertainty among your team towards the end of the semester.  You will get to work immediatly upon meeting and assignments will be finished that much faster.

3)  Teamwork:  Dont let anyone sit on the sidelines.  Make sure everyone is involved.  Should they be lazy, or just shy, they need to participate and share in the work load.  On the other hand, don't let anyone dominate the group by doing all the work.  Strangely enough, these people do exist and their work habits will exclude the shy members of the group and this should be discouraged.  A group will be a cohesive team if everyone contributes to the work assigned and everyone contributes to the thought process.  It is a good thing to argue.  This will happen when everyone contributes.  It is natural and should not be discouraged.  It will only make the final decision that much better.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Jason Dean of the Comrades (comm. 281 8:00a.m.)


In this fifth, and final, journal assignment, I am assigned the task of speaking to the fall class of COM 281.  First of all, let me tell the new classmates that this communications class was a true eye-opener.  As a rather naïve and shy freshman, I was intimidated by the pressures of college.  All around me, especially in my group, I saw older, more mature students.  I was the outsider, the lone freshman.  But because of the help of my teammates, I became a productive, still shy, but overall helpful member of WORLD DOMINATION.  WORLD DOMINATION, under the expert leadership of me, has dominated all the other teams, especially the A-Team.  Seriously though, this COM 281 class has broadened my perspectives.  It probably would have helped to have read, and digested, the material thoroughly.  I do not have a real solid grasp on all the extra things involved in communication.  I comprehend the general concepts of the course, but in some areas, I lack total understanding.  My advice on this is to read and comprehend the material.  This COM textbook is no easy read.  It’s chock full of complicated interpersonal theories.
 
Another area I wished I could improve on is shyness.  I know this isn’t an actual part of the communications course, but my own hesitancy and intimidation prevented me from contributing to the group for a short time.  Even now, I am reluctant to voice my opinions and ideas.  I have always been quiet and shy, willing to do my job and shut up, but this COM course requires you to throw aside your fears and jump right into the group discussion.  Often, my teammates must prod me for ideas.  Hopefully, in these final weeks, I can muster enough guts to just speak up.  Maybe.

One last area that I could have improved on is competitiveness.  Our only true archenemies are the Six Pack.  Even we usually dominate them on a regular basis.  If we had perhaps fostered a deeper hatred for the other teams, then we could have spent more time plotting the destruction of our enemies!  WORLD DOMINATION is supreme!  Seriously, team competition is key to having fun in the class.  For an example of team against team, just ask Dr. Lane about last semester’s block-building exercise.  It was wild.  I have never seen the tension level rise in the classroom.  It was a pressure cooker.

In short, don’t treat the class as just another 3 credits.  Treat it as an exercise in creative learning.  If nothing else, have fun.  Get to know your team members.  In a few months, they probably won’t even recognize me on the street, but at least it was fun while it lasted.

Kenny Barras


Well, I am supposed to give you all advice about how to optimize your group experience.  Com 281 ended up being a class which I thoroughly enjoyed despite being more work than I had anticipated.  My group ended up being a great one, not only for the success we achieved, but for friendships that I made.  I have a couple of suggestions to make the most of your group.

First, make sure that you do your group experience early.  That was probably the biggest factor to the great cohesion our team possessed.  As you completethis activity, you will immediately sense bonds becoming stronger and an increase of cohesion among the group members.  Dr. Lane could tell when we had done our group experience; he noticed that the circle of our group was tighter and that we seemed to be enjoying ourselves and smiling more during the next class.  I guarantee that your team will experience these same results after you complete this assignment.

Second, have some meetings outside the environment of the classroom.  I know that many members may not be too keen on this idea, but it does increase cohesion among team members.  We met at my apartment to compile our team resume, and it was a chance to get to know each other better.  We found out things about each other and created many "inside jokes" amongst The Mild
Kats.  These jokes have somehow not gotten old yet, and we sill get a laugh out of them today.  My apartment ended up being a great place to meet because we didn't have the inhibitions that usually were present in the context of the classroom.

Third, you should all be open to new ideas of members and make it a norm not to criticize anyone's opinions until they have stated their reasons for it.  If we would have immediately told our opinions about some of the members initial ideas, we would have cast away many good suggestions simply because they didn't sound exceptional at first.  I think it is important to remember that by building on one another's ideas and suggestions, teams will most likely find the highest success.  Many times great ideas are a  collaboration of many members okay ideas.  Just remember to take everyone's suggestions into consideration.

 Well best of luck to your group.  I think you will also find this class to be not only informative, but fun.

Kelly Mudd


*  A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER  *

The most important thing to remember is to treat others as you would want to be treated and that you only get out of something the
effort you put forth.  I am a terrible person to be saying these things since it is so hard for me to remember them.  I admit I do not always practice what I preach but remembering that no one is perfect is important as well.  Keeping communication open, stating your needs and fulfilling the groups goals at every stage throughout the semester is very important.  It seems to me that the means are not as important as long as you reach the goal efficiently and effectively.  Use strategies that incorporate everyone's needs and this class will be a monumental learning event in your life.

Wendy Devins


     Well, the semester is almost over, and I have to say that this communications class has been great. I am not saying this, because I want suck points. I am saying it has been great, because I have really learned a lot in class not only from working better with groups, but I have also learned to speak with more confidence in other classes.
     If I had to give advice to next semester's class, I would tell them to have more interaction with each other, and really get to know each individual in their group. I would tell them to make sure that they read each chapter for the RAT tests. I feel cohesiveness is truly gained by becoming friends. I think that they should tell everyone to be open and honest with each other, and always give positive influence toward each group member. When group projects have been given, they should use their time wisely and let the group solve who does what by volunteering. I feel if a person volunteers for a part in a project, then they will probably do their part with more enthusiasm instead of giving a person a part that they probably don't want to do.
     First things first, I think that we should have had more competitive projects. We really didn't compete with the other groups much in class. I think that after our group went first on the presentations, we lost cohesiveness when we had nothing to do for a month. Our group seems to not care as much because we don't really have that many tasks to get together and interact. I think the only thing that needs to be changed is to add more group tasks!

Jason Deskins


Some advice for the students on COM 281 next year:

 1. Start the class with an open mind, don't be prejudice about working in groups
 2. Be willing to spend time out of class with your group
 3. Take the time to get to know your group, you are going to be spending a lot of time with them
 4.  Be flexible in your thinking and open to others opinions
 5. Read the text and be prepared for the RAT's

Sincerly,
Julie Tatman


Dear student,
 Throughout the course of the semester you need to make sure that you and your group are in check.  Having a healthy relationship with your group members will enable you to have a great small group experience and have good marks at the end of the semester.  TO make sure that you and your group are doing well you need to follow these four tips.

 Have fun: Make sure that you and your group are getting the assignment done but make sure that you are enjoying yourself.  All work and no play can hinder a group in the long run but make sure that you do not slack off too much.

 Be friends: This goes along with having fun but you need to make sure that you and your group members are friends as well as team mates. Friendships will help make the group a more learning and positive atmosphere.  Try not to have many sub groups, but all be friends and enjoy each other's company.

 Make a schedule, but be flexible: Make sure that when your group calls a meeting everyone is there.  Make plans final but be open and flexible to spur of the moment changes.  Never be a stickler to any schedule, whither it be in a meeting, classroom, or out of class.  IF you live by the clock then most likely you will die by the clock.  Set small time limits and be flexible to giving more time if the project is going well.

 Listen to Dr. Lane: Dr. Lane is one of the best resources in the room.  Never be afraid to ask him a question or make a suggestion.  Dr. Lane is a very friendly and flexible teacher who cares mainly about what you learn and how you apply it, not the grade that you get.  Dr. Lane will become a valuable asset to the group as the semester goes on, so take his advice in the beginning so you don't have to play catch up in the end

Sincerely
Tim Buckingham


Dear future students of Dr. Lane

Here are my personal secrets to making your Com 281 experience the most fun you could have while attending UK.

1. Get to know your group early.  Go out and do your group experience as soon as humanly possible.  Hopefully, you will realize that your group is made up of interesting and fun people, which will instantly build great group cohesion.

2. Do not be too afraid of the RAT tests.  As long as you read the chapter and logically approach each question, they are a breeze.  Dr. Lane does not try to trick you with confusing questions.

3. Do not miss class, or the rest of your group will resent you greatly. (although they may hide their deep hatred)

4. If a problem arises with a group member, deal with it immediately. Do not wait until the problem is unmanageable and your group is in jeopardy.

5. Overall, have fun! This is one of the most unique and potentially useful classes you will ever have.

Shane Bettenhausen


Dear prospective students,

       Enlight of your taking the small group communications course,  I would like to offer you some advice  which will help your
performance throughout the semester.  Because of the vast amount of  knowledge that I learned over the course of the semester, I feel  confident that I can help you eliminate some of the problems that I encountered while taking small group communications.

        First, be sure that you have a sincere interest in taking  this course, otherwise get out your scheduling book and choose
something else.  I say this because this is a course that will have you working closely with other people to accomplish tasks and goals.  And if you don't hold a true interest in the course, then this will affect the grade that you and your group will get because cooperation by all members is important.

        Next, allow yourself to be open to new ideas and methods of completing assignments.  You will find as I did that not everyone in your group has the same characteristics and values towards many issues that you will face.  By being open to new things, you will be able to work more effectively because of the reduced amount of problems that you would normally see if there were signs of resistance against the ideas of other members.  This is not to say to give in at every notion, but to be willing to compromise.

         Also take the time to get to know your group more personally outside of class even if it involves you calling them just to say hey.  This will build a stronger relationship between you and your group members.  I haven't done this as much as I should and find that at times I feel uncomfortable with addressing certain members with my concerns.  So make sure that you develop not just a classroom relationship, but work hard on becoming a friend and you will find that your group will be more cohesive.

         By incorporating these few simple ideas you will find that you are more prepared to conquer the small group communications class.  Make sure that you live up to these suggestions as well, and not to just attempt them and give up.  I learned these things as the semester went on, and I know that if I had kept these ideas in mind that my group would have been twice as effective.

Sincerely,
Charles Burnside


Throughout my experience in small group communications, I have come to realize four important things:  Pray for luck, recognize 'lazy' group members as soon as possible, try to have fun and pray for luck. :)  My personal experience with the Junebugs hasn't been good, but I won't bore you with details.  The process by which you are placed into groups creates much diversity, so your differences begin before you even meet.  During this process, PRAY HARD.  I wish you luck.

I joined my group with great expectations, counting every member as a great friend before I even knew them.  This single act 'blinded' me from obvious potential problems.(And these potential problems became very large ones!)  By assuming the best in people, you set the tone for mistakes.  I am not saying that you should hate everyone that gets placed in your group, but you should be very objective.  By doing this, you will have a better idea of who is going to be lazy or become the group's 'slacker.'  If you  notice this from the onset, you may approach this individual ,or individuals, within the group setting.  I urge you not to procrastinate this action.  If you do, you may find yourself loaded with assignments because no one else would do them.  If the first discussion has no effect, tell Dr. Lane and he will take care of it for you.

Finally, have fun.  No one likes having to organize a group meeting outside of class, but they are mandatory in completing many of your projects.  So, it is important to put fun activities into these meetings. Meet at a local restaurant or order pizza when you meet.  After you complete a big project, celebrate as a group!  It will greatly increase your group's cohesiveness. (You'll learn more about this during the semester.:))

Overall, enjoy the class.  You will do a lot of work, but you will learn so much and have fun doing it.  Good luck and be nice to Dr. Lane!!!

Miranda Cope

 For all the spring '98 students who are up for the challenge of Dr. Lane's Com.281 course, allow me to give you a few pointers.  Speaking from experience, i found these insights to most helpful.

1. Keep a clear open conscious.  You will meet 5 strangers who may be very different from you, but do't let this discourage you.  You'll be suprised  at the members of your group who may turn into five of your best friends, or five of your worst enemies (just kidding about the enemy thing!).  Encourage your team that this year will challenging and rewarding.  The team activities you
will be doing (trust me there is alot!) will bring laughter, challenge, andpossibly cohesiveness to your group.

2. Learn to depend on your team.  There is no "I" in the word team.

This learning experience is not your job, it's a group effort.  As the year progresses you will uncover q ualities that group members obtain that make your group  function.  If I know Dr. Lane, your class will be doing tons of written assignments and group tasks.  Don't so it all yourself, or give it to other group members to do, work together(The key word being Together) The more you do
to help out will probably motivate others to work harder, resulting as one big cohesive unit!

Best of luck to all the new communication students in finding group cohesiveness and make sure you read every chapter for RAT Tests!

Becky Evans, November 18,1997


Advice I would give someone taking our communication class in the future would first be to spend time reading and rereading the text material.  Understanding the gist of the material aids in  getting the most out of lectures.  Having a deeper understanding of the material aids in being able to utilize the information in the group setting.  I would also advise starting discussions regarding
the material in order to help the rest of the group to internalize the material.  A person taking the class would not have the knowledge and ideas regarding how to get a new group off to a good start until well into the semester.  I would tell them to be very observant of the other group member's behavior and to use that information as instinctively as possible to help the group flow.  As the readings and lectures progressed, terms would be added describing the behaviors previously observed.
     I would also stress the importance of  how the group's personality directly effects the group and individual performance and grade.  Having just one difficult member can ruin a semester, and having a supportive group can make the semester a wonderful learning experience.  I believe this advice would help the new student to at least be aware of what should be paid attention to until it is learned through reading and experience what is in detail to be paid attention to.  In short, this is merely a "watch your step" until the terrain is learned.

John D. Connelley


In thinking about the our overall group experience there are a few areas that we could have improved on this semester to make the group more cohesive and more effective in the class.  This would be my advice to any future groups in Small Group  Communication.

The first piece of advice that I can offer future groups involved in COM 281 is that they get togather outside of class and just all spend some time togather getting to know one another.  This is different than the group experience because it offers the group a way to get to know one another in a very informal atmosphere without worrying about taking down certain amounts of information for the group paper or taking pictures of the activities that you are involved in.  Some suggestions as to where to meet would be coffee shops or someones home where everyone can share with each other without really being distracted.

Second is to have a reward system set up for the group.  This type of reward system is to reward the group for all of the hard work that they have put in together.  Some examples of a reward system could be ordering a pizza after completing your group work at someone's house or going to a movie after the group has completed a group presentation in class.  Again this improves cohesion by the group coming togather outside of classroom activities and just enjoying spending time with one another.

Finally, I would encourage the group to get togather outside of class to study for the weekly RAT tests.  This is so that the group members who didn't understand the readings can ask questions about the concepts in the chapters and can also go over the other concepts that they already understand commiting them to memory through repition.

In conclusion,  all of these are suggestions as to improve the performance of the group and the group climate.  All of these suggestions involve the group meeting outside of class.  The more time the group spends togather the more cohesive the group will become in my opinion.  This is because the group gradually develops inside jokes and other such experiences together.

MICHAEL TRAVIS        11/19/07


This class has provided me with an in depth look at communicating in small groups.  I have really enjoyed taking this class.
Things to help you become more cohesive and work more efficiently...

* COMMUNICATE!  If the group didn't know if someone was coming to a meeting, valuable time was lost waiting for them to show up.  Managing time is key to working efficiently.

* WORK TOGETHER! When you work together a group gets more things accomplished and feels more comfortable in getting through the presentation.  When a group divides the assignment up sometimes a group feels uneasy about the way that particular person will present the material. They do not know if the person will come through effectively!

* BUILD UNITY! DO outside activities so the team can learn to work together while having fun.  Always working on projects kind of gets old.  So a group may need to get together and not do class work, but have fun!

Meredith Sunderman    Fall '97


Here is a checklist that I believe is necessary for COM 281:
 1. Look forward to getting to know the people in your group.  Do not judge them before you learn who they are.
 2. Do the group experience as soon as possible.  It will help your group become cohesive right away.
 3. Have fun in your group.  It helped our group become more cohesive, but we still got our stuff done.

 There is really only one thing we could have done that would have made our group more cohesive, and that is another group experience.  It is not a part of the class, but it would have made our group a lot closer.  We did ours at the very beginning of the semester, and we were not as cohesive at the end of the semester as we were during the beginning.

Greg Cecil


Dear Students,

 This class that you are taking will demand more from you as an individual than you are probably used to.  For the projects at hand you should start early in order to accomplish the task and be in order.  Read the chapters before hand and go over them with your group.  Take a leadership role in your group and make sure that you are not a slacker.  The amount of work that you put into the class will determine the amount experience and knowledge gained from the class.

For the group experience, start early in order to avoid complications and not to be hurried to get the job done at the last minute.  Also in your group be active because the more work that you put in the more that you will get out of the class and the more efficiently the job will get done.  This advice will prove strong throughout all of the projects in the class.

Meet as much as possible with the group in order to keep cohesiveness within the group.  This will reflect in your grades in the group projects.  Make sure that everyone takes a leadership role at one point or another, in order to keep the efficiency of the group at a maximum level.  This class is really not a difficult class as long as you put in a good amount of work.  I wish the best of luck to you in your success in the class in the following semester.

Sincerely
Dave Sullivan


To: Future Students of Com 281

Right now your probably wondering how you will ever make it through this semester.  The feelings of uncertainty and doubt seem to solely occupy your minds.  Hopefully, it will be of comfort to know that the semester does get better.

Like you I had those same feelings when first entering into this classroom, especially as I sat face-to-face with my group members for the first time.  It was at this point when I realized we were going to have to work together in order to achieve the set goals.  Yes I still had my doubts, that is normal, but through our successful completion of many tasks our groups level of cohesion steadily grew.  But, there are three things that I am going to share with you that I wish I had known in the beginning.  Hopefully, by sharing these points with you, it will help to make your group experience a positive one.

First and foremost, everyone must take part in all group discussion and decision making.  This involves input from all group members, as well as, a commitment to the group and the goals that it has set.  Every member should be willing to do their part, and allow all members to be heard.  By doing this it allows for a better solution to be made, and for the development of a more trusting relationship because everyone has participated.

Secondly, when working in any group, remember to have an open mind and to be flexible.  Groups do not always agree on every aspect under discussion. By remembering to be flexible and knowing that your solution is not always the best, it allows for a better interaction between yourself and your group members.  Communication will move more smoothly.  Lastly, celebrate the differences between everyone in the group.  As you know we all have different personalities and ways that we deal with a
situation.  By being able to appreciate these differences and look at a situation through a different perspective, it can only help your group move toward a higher level of cohesion.  It will do this because everyone will be able to let down their guard and be their true selves, they won't feel that they will be criticized for being different.  This positive type of environment helps the relationships between group members to grow.

Hopefully, the points I have given will help in your upcoming tasks.  Good luck and remember all your group members feel the same way.

Danielle Stewart


 For the future of Communications 281:
        Working in groups is never easy and can cause stress, especially in an academic environment.  But for this journal there may be a few helpful hints that can lend itself to your future success.

   1.     I suggest that you find time, at least once a week, to hang out together outside of class.  When you see someone in class twice a week you cannot really get to know them as well as you might if you knew one another on a different level.  When our group met outside of class we had more fun, joked around more and improved our group cohesion.
   2.     Organize, Organize, Organize!!!!!  When an assignment is given for the group give an individual a particular job and make sure they stick to it.  Conflict will occurr if one member is doing more work than another.
   3.     If an individual misses class let them know that they need to call another member to find out what he or she missed.  However, if you feel like this member won't bother calling, call them and let them know what happened in class and if there are any assingments they should be working on.
       Overall, there are lots of things that can be done to improve a groups relationship.  These are just a few that can be very helpful when starting off into a new semester.
 
Amy Harmon
World Domination


Dear Next Semester Student,

I have some suggestions on how to optomize your small group experience. The first is to really try to get to know your group members early.  This helps tremendously.  If your group members are more comfortable with each other, then you will not have a problem getting tasks started or discussing group issues.  Being more familar with everyone also helps when there is
conflict in the group, which you will learn is a good thing sometimes.

Another suggestion I have is to be honest and frank with group members.  If there is one group member who is slacking, confront him/her.  If you don't say anything, then that member will continue to be lazy and let the rest of the group do all the work.  Although my group did not have a problem with this, another group in my class did.

Be prepared for a lot of work!  This may only be a two-hundred level course, but you will do and learn more if you take it seriously.  Your group experience will be much more productive and fun (believe it or not) if you are willing to pull your own weight in the group.  By being ready to do your fair share of the work, you will avoid hostile feelings from others.  It also helps because if you have a lot going on during one COM 281 assignment, other group members will not mind giving you a little slack
or letting you miss a group meeeting, because they know you will make up for it somewhere down the COM 281 road.  This honesty and willingness to do your part will make your group experience successful.

Who knows, you might end up liking your group and doing group work!

GOOD LUCK!!

Amy Spatcher


 Dear prospective COM 281 student --
      I'm sure that you, like most all of the current members of section 001 around the beginning of September, have your reservations with respect to small group communication.  I have to admit that I was quite skeptical myself at the onset.  This uncertainty was most likely the result of several negative experiences in the small group setting in additional classes
(primarily biology and anthropology courses).  I often found myself being the first to speak up and initiate activity.  As a result of this gesture on my part, I often ended up contributing the majority of the effort as I truly did care about the outcome (this concern was visible from the onset, but it was often far from mutual).  Although I definitely do prefer working on projects
alone, I have to admit that this course has significantly reduced my loathing of "group effort".
         I have to attribute the above to several factors, but perhaps most importantly -- I very much enjoyed the individuals comprising my small group.  We worked incredibly well together and enjoyed ourselves quite a bit enroute to the completion of various projects, etc.  In order to make your time spent in this course worthwhile it is vitally important to respect your fellow group members (your lack of effort, etc. will directly affect all others with respect to the assignment of group grades, etc.) and to maintain a fairly open attitude at all times.  Although I am not hightailing my way into the corporate sector post-graduation, I do believe that I have acquired a greater knowledge of small group communicative processes which will prove beneficial in later small group settings.  I am currently planning on pursuing a Ph.D in either Botany or Nutritional Anthropology and I am quite
certain that I will not be a stranger to small groups in the future. I hope that your experience is a positive one!

Kathleen Johnson