Using a variety of research methods, communication scholars, sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists have reached a similar conclusion about humankind: we are social creatures. We need to establish meaningful relationships with others. We need to associate with others in groups. We are reared in family groups. We are educated in groups. We worship in groups. We are entertained in groups. We work in groups. When an important problem arises, we seek others' advice and meet with problem-solving and decision-making groups in order to help find answers to important issues.

The main purpose of this course is to help you become a better communicator in the context of small groups. You will gain an understanding of the theories and praxis of small group communication. You will have several opportunities to apply the information you have learned with the goal of becoming a more competent small group member.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify and demonstrate basic small group communication concepts and principles established by the required readings and supplemental material.
• Examine and analyze theories related to small group communication explained in the required readings and supplemental material. 
• Apply small group communication theories and concepts to develop and improve communication as a member of a small group. 
• Practice and evaluate decision-making and problem-solving skills within the context of a small group project aligned with course content. 
• Identify and employ course concepts along with assignment guidelines to complete a group project. 

Please review the FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses. For additional information, please visit FIU's Policy and Procedure Library.

As a member of the FIU community you are expected to be knowledgeable about the behavioral expectations set forth in the FIU Student Conduct and Honor Code.

Acceptance of Late Assignments
Late assignments are accepted in this course for a reduced grade. You may submit your assignment late for a 10% grade reduction for each day the assignment is late with a maximum deduction of 50%. I will not accept late work after 7 days have passed since the assignment's due date. Exams and quizzes are not accepted late and must be completed by the deadline for a grade. Submit late assignments to the late dropbox in Week 1 or the regular assignment dropbox. Please notify me when you submit a late assignment so I can grade it in a timely manner.

Policy for Assigning an incomplete "I" Grade
An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious interruption not caused by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as quickly as possible, but no later than, two consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the course or it will automatically default to an "F" or the grade that the student earned in the course. There is no extension of the two-semester deadline. The student must not register again for the course to make up the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must remove the incomplete by the end of the fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of graduation.

Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student misses a significant portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period has ended, the student may petition for a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all of their courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot complete everything that is now required of them.

In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a grade of "I" (Incomplete) the following steps must be followed.

Using an Official University Form the course instructor will report the following:

• The grade earned by the student to date.
• The missing work and the percentage of the final grade it represents (this requires the details of the specific missing assignment).
• The date the instructor expects the missing work to be submitted or in the case of an examination made up.
• The justification for awarding the grade of "I".
• Have the student sign the form.
• Submit this form to the Department Chair and Dean and maintain a copy for instructor records and provide a copy for the student.
• Upon satisfying the requirements for a grade the instructor will sign off on the form and attach it to the change of grade form she or he will submit.

University Learning Center
The FIU University Learning Center is available on both campuses to support you. They provide personalized attention tailored to your needs in a user-friendly environment that includes online support. You can get help writing a paper, reading more efficiently and increasing textbook comprehension, or even creating an individualized learning plan. The center is located in PC 247 (305-348-2180) on the main campus and at ACI 160 (305-919-5927) on the Biscayne Bay campus. Find them online here.

Religious Holidays
The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from an online class to observe a religious holy day of his or her faith.

Code of Student Conduct
A University is a learning community following a tradition more than 1,000 years old. Florida International University is such a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. As a member of this community:

• I will respect the tradition of academic inquiry, the University's rules of conduct, and its mission.
• I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the FIU community.
• I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the institution.
• I will be diligent and honest in my personal and academic endeavors.

The FIU Student Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct regarding students with disruptive behavior.

One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the What's Required webpage to find out more information on this subject.

Privacy Policy Statements for Partners and Vendors

• Canvas
• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Google
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• ProctorU
• HonorLock (PDF)
• Turnitin
• OpenStax
• Zoom
• Respondus LockDown Browser

Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.

The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students with disabilities the necessary support to successfully complete their education and participate in activities available to all students. If you have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodations, please contact the Center at 305-348-3532 or visit them at the Graham Center GC 190.

For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.

Web Accessibility Statements for Partners and Vendors 

• Canvas
• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Google
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• ProctorU
• HonorLock
• Turnitin
• OpenStax
• Zoom
• Respondus LockDown Browser

Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for additional information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Conduct and Honor Code. Academic Misconduct includes:

 Cheating

• The unauthorized use of any materials, information, study aids or assistance from another person on any academic assignment or exercise, unless explicitly authorized by the course Instructor; 
• Assisting another Student in the unauthorized use of any materials, information, study aids, unless explicitly authorized by the Instructor; and 
• Having a substitute complete any academic assignment or completing an academic assignment for someone else, either paid or unpaid; and 

Plagiarism

• The deliberate use and appropriation of another's work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the Student's own.
• Assisting another Student in the deliberate use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. 

Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures as well as student resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester.

If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to express any concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or worries you have, for the classmate’s well-being or yours; you are encouraged to share your concerns with FIU’s Panthers Care website.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free and confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns that life brings. Professional counselors are available for same-day appointments. Don’t wait to call (305) 348-2277 to set up a time to talk or visit the online self-help portal.

This course will serve to embrace the diversity and inclusivity found within Florida International University. We appreciate and respect diversity, equality, equity, cooperativeness, community, and sustainability within our online courses. We are committed to the ongoing education of our students and their participation within the course regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, geographical location, religion, and disability. We strive in encouraging collaboration by preparing our students to value the differences in others. At the core of our intentions is the encouragement of acceptance and appreciation of differences within our student population and community.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

You will need to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser to complete the exam in this course. Please visit our Student Proctored Exam Instructions. webpage for important information concerning proctored exams, proctoring centers, and important forms. Additional information may also be found here: https://ecampus.fiu.edu/students-respondus. Please note that you cannot complete exams for this course on a Chromebook or smartphone. You will need to use a computer that is compatible with Respondus.

This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as for traditional courses; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.

Online courses are not independent study courses. You will be expected to interact online with the professor and your fellow students; to do assignments, and to meet deadlines.

In order to be successful in this fully online course, you will be expected to:

• Review the “How to get started” information located in Canvas.
• Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self-introduction post.
• Take the Practice Quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with Canvas.
• Interact online with your instructor and classmates.
• Complete a group project with classmates.
• Review and follow the course calendar.
• Log in to the course every day.
• Respond to discussion boards, blogs, and journal postings by the deadline.
• Respond to messages within 24 hours.
• Submit assignments by the deadline.

The instructor will:

• Log in to the course every day.
• Respond to discussion boards, blogs, and journal postings within 48 hours.
• Respond to messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends.
• Grade assignments within 7-14 days of the assignment deadline.

Communication in this course will take place via the Canvas Inbox. Check out the Canvas Conversations Tutorial or Canvas Guide to learn how to communicate with your instructor and peers using Announcements, Discussions, and the Inbox. I will respond to all correspondences within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends.

Please read the weekly calendar carefully. You are fully responsible for completing the assignments by the assigned dates. This requires that you read ahead as some assignments may take you more time and research than others. All work must be submitted to the appropriate assignment dropbox by 11:55 p.m. EST on the due date. Only assignments submitted through the appropriate dropbox will be considered for credit. This course will consist of the following assignments:

• Practice Quiz: The Practice Quiz is located in Canvas to test your computer. It does not contain questions related to class. It is available to make sure your computer is set up to take an online material. You receive NO class points for this quiz. You can find the practice quiz in the Week 1 module in Canvas. It is advised that you take this quiz BEFORE you attempt opening an assignment to avoid any technical issues.
   
• Entrance Quiz: The Entrance Quiz is located in Canvas and is based solely on the FAQ Doc and the course syllabus. You must complete the Entrance Quiz by end of Week 1.
   
• Self-Introduction Post: You will submit a brief autobiographical post. In your post, please state your name, major, hometown, interests, expectations for this course, and your thoughts, feelings, and experiences about small group communication. Review the guidelines in Canvas for more information. The post is worth 2.5% of your grade.
   
• Quizzes: You will complete 5 quizzes throughout the semester. The quizzes may contain multiple choice and true/false questions as well as short answer/essay questions. The quizzes are worth 10% of your grade.
   
• Discussion Posts:You will submit 5 discussion posts throughout the semester. You will post items to the course online discussion forum that link that week’s course concepts to real-world examples. Post at least one piece of media (photo, short video, piece of writing, song, etc.) that no one else has posted yet that illustrates and exemplifies concepts found in the week’s course material. Your post cannot be identical to any other student’s post. Your post should include the following:
  • An analysis of the piece of media according to the discussion post guidelines in Canvas.
  • An explanation of how the piece of media connects to the course materials for the week. The posts are worth 10% of your grade.

• Exams: There are two exams that will have 50 multiple-choice questions. You will use the Respondus Lockdown Browser. To complete the exam, you must use Respondus. Exams will not be administered through any other means. The exams are closed book and you are not permitted to collaborate with any other individuals on them. The exams are worth 20% of your grade.

• Movie Paper: You will write a 3-5 page report analyzing a movie in the context of small group communication. Please review the Movie Paper Guidelines in Canvas before beginning your report. The paper is worth 10% of your grade.
   
• Group Project: You will be placed into groups of 5-7 and complete a group project. Part of the group project includes taking a People Styles Inventory and crafting a group contract. Please review the group project assignment guidelines in Canvas for additional information. The project is worth 20% of your grade.
   
• Evaluation Paper: You will write a 4-6 page paper reflecting on your experience working with a group. Please review the paper guidelines on Canvas for additional details. The paper is worth 15% of your grade.

In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

All assessments will auto-submit when (1) the timer runs out OR (2) the closing date/time is reached, whichever happens first. For example, if a quiz has a closing time of 5:00 pm but the student begins the exam at 4:55 pm, the student will only have 5 minutes to complete the quiz.

• List all assessments (i.e. graded or practice)
• Provide the dates and times when assessments will become available (i.e. From Monday 10:00 am – Tuesday 11:59 pm)
• Provide assessment duration (i.e. 30 minutes, 1 hour)
• Provide details for results
• When will students be able to see the results (i.e. Immediately after exam, after the availability period has ended, or not at all)
• What will they be able to see the results (i.e. Total score only, all of the questions and answers, etc.)
• The expected turn-around time for feedback or grade.\

Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Canvas Help Team.

Zoom is a video conference tool that you can use to interact with your professor and fellow students by sharing screens, chatting, broadcasting live video/audio, and taking part in other interactive online activities. We will be utilizing this tool to conduct office hours and group meetings.

Zoom Meetings will be posted in the announcements and/or Canvas messages.

Zoom Test Meeting Room 
Use this link to access the Zoom Test Meeting Room. This meeting room is available to test out the software before joining an actual session.

Reference the provided links to access Zoom student tutorials to learn about the tool, how to access your meeting room, and share your screen.

• Download Zoom.
• Login to Zoom through Desktop Application
• Enable and Test Audio & Webcam.
• Schedule a meeting or Join a Zoom meeting.
• Invite others to join meeting.
• Chat (Professors) - Students look at attendees section for instructions.
• Share My Screen.
• Record a Local Zoom meeting.
• Host Control in Meetings.
• Getting Started with iOS.
• Getting Started with Android.