Lake-Sumter State College Course Syllabus Course Information: Course Prefix/Number: SLS 1267 Course Title: Team Building & Communication Skills CRN: 20542 & 20614 Credit Hours: 3 Semester: SPRING 2017 Days, Location, Time: HYBRID, LA 9, Tuesday & Thursday 8-9:20am or 12:30-1:50pm Course Description: This course emphasizes team building and advanced communication skills. Working both individually and in groups, students will study how to interact more productively with others, to listen more deeply for the real problems rather than surface issues. Students will also practice balancing advocacy and inquiry in order to help others understand their reasoning and to work more productively towards group consensus. Students will also be exposed to a variety of managerial models and demonstrate knowledge of the most appropriate model for a given situation. Instructor Information: Name: Heather Elmatti E-Mail: elmattih@lssc.edu Office Location: Leesburg Faculty Office Building Room #10 Phone: 352-323-3652 Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 8:30-9:30am & 2-2:30pm Tuesday 11am-12:30pm & 2-6pm Thursday 11am-12:30pm (online) Vital Communication Information: For e-mail, please note that all students are required to use Lakehawk Mail for official college e-mail communications. See the college webpage for instructions on activating Lakehawk Mail (http://www.lssc.edu/lakehawk/pages/default.aspx). Sending a private message using the MESSAGES tool in Blackboard is always the most secure method of contacting your Instructor. Please remember that any phone contact with your Instructor should be of a professional nature. Please always leave a clear, concise, but detailed message with your contact and class information. Always follow up a phone call with a written account via BB Message or e-mail.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites: Prerequisites: None Co-requisites: None Textbook & Other Course Materials: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath Assessment access code NOTE: The requirement is the purchase access and complete the online assessment test which requires an access code. You do not have to purchase the book and may purchase just the code. BUT used books typically DO NOT have usable access codes. Technology Requirements: Blackboard is a required component of this course. Students unfamiliar with Blackboard are expected to complete the Blackboard Orientation from LSSC s website (http://lssc.edu/dl/pages/default.aspx) within the first week of classes. Major writing assignments need to be created and saved in a file format that is compatible with Microsoft Word. If using a word processing program other than Word, it is the student s responsibility to adhere to all formatting and submission requirements. Please ask for help if you are unsure how to save a file in a Word-compatible format. Please see the LSSC Lakehawk Page for information on how to obtain Microsoft Office 365 as an LSSC Student (http://www.lssc.edu/lakehawk/pages/default.aspx). Student Learning Outcomes: The following outcomes will be assessed in this course. An outcome is defined as something students take with them beyond this course. Identify the elements of effective team building. Demonstrate effective techniques and strategies problem solving & decision making. Demonstrate an understanding of the steps Institutional Policies & Procedures: Academic Integrity: The successful functioning of the academic community demands honesty, which is the basis of respect for both ideas and persons. In the academic community, there is an ongoing assumption of academic integrity at all levels. There is the expectation that work will be independently thoughtful and responsible as to its sources of information and inspiration. Honesty is an appropriate consideration in other ways as well, including but not limited to the responsible use of library resources, responsible conduct in examinations, and the responsible use of the Internet. (See college catalog for complete statement. http://www.lssc.edu/students/pages/current/coursecatalog.aspx) Important Information for Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability who requires assistance or academic accommodations should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities immediately to discuss eligibility. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is located on the Leesburg Campus, but arrangements can be made to meet with a student on any campus. An appointment can be made by calling 352-365-3589 and specific
information about the OSD and potential services can be found at www.lssc.edu, then go to Quick Links and click on Disability Services. (http://www.lssc.edu/academics/disabilityservices/pages/default.aspx) Privacy Policy (FERPA): The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of a student s education records. In order for your information to be released, a form must be signed and in your records located in the Admissions/Registrar s Office. Zero-Tolerance for Violence Statement: Lake-Sumter State College has a policy of zero tolerance for violence as stated in College Board Rule 2.17. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with Board Rule 2.17. Attendance/Withdrawal Policies: Institutional Information: Once the Add/Drop period passes, students deciding to discontinue class attendance and/or online participation have the responsibility for formal withdrawal by the withdrawal deadline. Withdrawal Deadline: My hope is that students enrolled in this course will fully engage with the material and the class activities. If you feel that you cannot complete the expectations for this course, you may choose to withdraw. If for any reason you decide to discontinue class attendance, it is your responsibility to withdraw from class prior to the published deadline. The Withdrawal Deadline for the term is MARCH 24. Forms are available from the Admissions Office. School policy mandates that a student who stops attending class without officially withdrawing will earn an F. Instructor Policies: Students are expected to be ON Time for class. Students will earn class participation points for class attendance and completing in-class activities. In order to earn points for participation and in-class activities students must be present for the entire class. Students who are not present for the entire class or choose to leave early or come late will not receive full participation points. For HYBRID classes absences OVER 4 will result in automatic failure. Late Work/Extensions: Assignments are due on the date stated in the syllabus. Assignments may be turned in early, but no late assignment will be accepted without PRIOR APPROVAL. Any late paper approved for submission will receive a deduction of 10 pts for every day it is late. Speeches may be given on the designated in the syllabus unless prior permission is obtained. Exceptions will be made in advance and for extreme circumstances. If there is an emergency and you cannot attend class when an assignment is due, please inform me. If you miss class, please contact me within 24 hours either in person, via phone or email to turn in an assignment. Failure to contact the instructor within the designated time allowed will result in the student receiving a zero for that assignment. Students should contact the instructor directly (i.e. do not send word to me via another student). I am not responsible for your failure to contact me. room Etiquette: -Please DO NOT bring food into the classroom unless it is part of a presentation. -Please respect others. Be attentive and avoid conversing during lectures and student presentations.
-Please dress appropriately. The image you portray will impact your presentation and evaluation. -It is extremely rude to walk out or into class while someone is talking or giving a presentation. If you arrive late please wait to until the person in front of class is finished before entering. The same applies to leaving the classroom. If you choose to walk in or out of class during a presentation you will not receive class participation points for that day. -Cell phones are not to be used in the classroom. If you leave class to take a call you will be considered absent for that session. If your cell phone rings or you choose to text during class you will not receive class participations points for that day. Grading Information: Grading Scale: Grades will be based on a point scale. Students will earn points for each assignment and in-class activities. Students are responsible for keeping track of their own point totals in order to gauge their progress. A 900-1000 B 800-899 C 700-799 D 600-699 F 0-599 Methods of Evaluation: Each project will be graded electronically using a rubric provided when the assignment is given. Your work will be judged against accepted academic standards for writing and documentation. Assignment Overview & Grade Breakdown: Category Description Points or % Activities 7 @ 25 pts each Service Learning Project Students will complete activities online and in their course journals related to topics discussed in class. Students will submit a brief reflection based on questions listed in Blackboard to earn points. Students will select a non-profit, community group or local business (which must receive pre-approval from the instructor prior to beginning) and volunteer 5+ hours helping in practical ways. While volunteering students will evaluate the team dynamics, work atmosphere, and interpersonal relationship undercurrents at play. Student must then propose, present and implement a project to help improve the TEAM aspects of the group. Select: Choose an organization (with approval of instructor & volunteer supervisor). Volunteer: Provide 5+ hours providing practical help as needed. Investigate: Look at what are the current team dynamics in the environment? What are the strengths and what could be improved? Plan: Devise a project or activity to assist in building stronger team cohesion and positive work/living 175 200
Category Description Points or % Small Group Presentations 2 @ 100 pts each Papers 2 @ 100 points each Project(s) environment for this group. Projects should take 1-3 hours to complete. Implement: With the approval of your volunteer supervisor, implement the project. This should also include an opportunity for group reflection from those involved in the project if at all possible. Evaluate: After completing the project, reflect on the experience and the effectiveness of your project. Student will give an oral presentation and submit a reflection paper regarding the project. In small groups, students will prepare an inspirational teaching on a value or skill essential for building strong team dynamics. The teaching should be 5 minutes in length. Then organize, prepare, and facilitate a team building activity for the class 10-15 minutes in length. Finally, facilitate a 5 minute processing time to connect the value or skill to the activity. Students will be graded on presentation and reflection questions listed in Blackboard. Students will write 2 papers (Personal Mission Statement & Philosophy of Teams) over the course of the term. Each paper should be a minimum 500 words and include specific examples and analysis addressing the reflection questions and topics listed in Blackboard. Personal Mission Statement: Based on activities you have completed throughout the course, students will create a personal mission statement addressing their strengths, values, goals and dreams. Philosophy of Teams: This is a combination research and reflection paper. Read and Research 3 different perspectives on what makes an effective team. Include a review of each of the articles you selected. Then write a personal Philosophy of Teams paper Incorporate supporting material following MLA format and include a Works Cited. The class will participate in 1-2 group teambuilding projects with the entire class. Students will be assigned a specific role and be responsible for planning, organizing and facilitating this task. Participation points will be earned through your involvement and by completing and submitting a follow-up evaluation. 200 200 75 Participation 10 points per week Student will receive points for attending class AND 150 participating in activities and discussions. Students MUST be in attendance for the entire class period in order to receive full participation points. Students who are more than 20 min. tardy or leave more than 20 min early will not receive participation points for that day. TOTAL 1000
Course Calendar: Week Begins Ends Objectives & Reading Assignments Items Due 1 2 3 4 T 5 6 7 T 8 T 9 T Jan. 9 Jan. 15 Intro to Course Expectations Why Teams & Teamwork *Activity Letter-to-Self Jan. 16 Jan. 22 IN CLASS: Collage Sharing & LSSC Team Challenge Course Problem Solving & Team Building Jan. 23 Jan. 29 IN CLASS: Lifeline Sharing & LSSC Team Challenge Course Experiential Learning & Lifelines Jan. 30 Feb. 5 Personality Types & Communication *Activity Group Presentation Sign-up Feb. 6 Feb. 12 Strength Finder What Makes a GOOD Presentation Feb. 13 Feb. 19 IN CLASS: Small Group Project PRESENTATIONS #1 Listening & Conflict Resolution Feb. 20 Feb. 26 IN CLASS: Small Group Project PRESENTATIONS #1 Role of Communication in Your Success *Activity Student-to-Student Feedback Feb. 27 Mar. 5 Goal Setting *Activity Mid-Term Evaluation Mar. 6 Mar. 12 Effective Teams & Team Members Collage Activity & Course Intro Activity *Please note ALL ASSIGNMENTS are ALWAYS DUE by Sunday 11:59pm Lifelines Activity Personality Types Activity Strength Finder Activity Service Learning Project Approval Personal Values Activity Small Group Project REFLECTION #1 Future Timeline Activity Service Learning Project Plan
Week Begins Ends Objectives & Reading Assignments Items Due Mar. 13 Mar. 19 Spring Break College Closed 10 T Mar. 20 Mar. 26 What is your WHY: Vision & Mission *Activity Solos Personal Mission Statement 11 T Mar. 27 Apr. 2 IN CLASS: Small Group Project PRESENTATIONS #2 Small Group Project REFLECTION #2 12 13 14 T Apr. 3 Apr. 9 IN CLASS: Small Group Project PRESENTATIONS #2 & SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT PRESENTATIONS Apr. 10 Apr. 16 IN CLASS: SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT PRESENTATIONS *Activity Letter-to-Self REVIEW Apr. 17 Apr. 23 IN CLASS: FINAL Course Wrap-up *Activity--Group Web Philosophy of Teams Paper Course Wrap-up Review Activity SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT Report & Volunteer Hours Log 15 No class Apr. 24 Apr. 28 NO ASSIGNMENTS OR EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER April 24. Syllabus Disclaimer: Information contained in this syllabus is, to the best knowledge of this instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed to the student. The instructor reserves the right, acting within policies and procedures of Lake-Sumter State College, to make necessary changes in course content or instructional techniques without prior notice or obligation to the student.