Spring Only
Note: There may be a few minor revisions to the syllabus throughout the semester which will be shared with you through email and on Course Announcements.
SEBS School Requirement
Fulfills Junior/Senior Colloquium
Prerequisites
None.
Leadership Minor
This course is part of the Leadership (607) Minor
Course Description
3 Credits. This course will introduce you to the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to become effective team members through the examination of group dynamics and team processes. You will review the characteristics of teams and learn about basic team processes, such as motivation, group cohesion and group roles. Moreover you will explore the issues that teams face, such as conflict, power and influence, problem solving, and decision making, and analyze teams and organizational culture, team building, and evaluating and rewarding teams.
Textbook
Levi, Daniel. (2014). Group Dynamics for Teams, 5th Edition, SAGE Publications. ISBN: 978-1-4833-7834-3. The textbook is available at the RU Barnes and Noble Book Store or you can obtain a copy from an alternative source. A copy may also be on reserve at Chang Library.
Required Readings
Each week in this online course there are required readings. These readings are the basis for the assignments for the course. So it is essential that you complete all readings. Each reading is in the course textbook. Group Dynamics for Teams. Daniel Levi. 5th Edition.
It is essential that each enrolled student obtain the textbook. This textbook is available for purchase at the RU Barnes and Noble bookstore and through various online vendors and eBooks. A copy may also be on reserve at the Chang Library.
Course Learning Objectives
As a result of this course, students will:
- Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate group dynamics and team processes.
- Recognize and understand the characteristics of teams, the processes of teamwork, and how teams function within organizations.
- Identify, demonstrate, analyze, manage, and evaluate team skills within the context of the class project.
- Recognize, interpret, and analyze the issues facing teams including conflict, power and social influence and leadership.
- Analyze the skills for understanding group dynamics and working effectively in groups.
- Apply the principles of team processes by serving on a class project team.
Basis for Grading
Each student will be assessed according to the following criteria: quality and effort of work, timeliness in completing assignments, and class participation.
- Team Assessments & Activities (2 Assignments - 200 points)
- Small Group Activity (30 points)
- Participation/Contribution in online Threaded Discussions (5 Discussions - 100 points)
- Short Essay Reaction Assignments (4 Assignments - 200 points)
- Quizzes (8 Quizzes - 240 points and 1 Quiz - 15 points)
- Group Observation Verification Form (15 points)
- Final Project Reflection Paper (100 points)
- Final Exam Paper (100 points)
Each assignment has assigned point values. Accumulation of points will result in the following grade ranges for this course:
A = 900–1000 points
B = 800–899 points
C = 700–799 points
D = 600–699 points
F = below 600 points
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Please follow the procedures outlined at ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered. Full policies and procedures are at Office of Disability Services website.
Academic Integrity
The university's policy on Academic Integrity is available at policies on academic integrity.
The principles of academic integrity require that a student:
- properly acknowledge and cite all use of the ideas, results, or words of others.
- properly acknowledge all contributors to a given piece of work.
- make sure that all work submitted as his or her own in a course or other academic activity is produced without the aid of impermissible materials or impermissible collaboration.
- obtain all data or results by ethical means and report them accurately without suppressing any results inconsistent with his or her interpretation or conclusions.
- treat all other students in an ethical manner, respecting their integrity and right to pursue their educational goals without interference. This requires that a student neither facilitate academic dishonesty by others nor obstruct their academic progress.
- uphold the canons of the ethical or professional code of the profession for which he or she is preparing.
Adherence to these principles is necessary in order to ensure that:
- everyone is given proper credit for his or her ideas, words, results, and other scholarly accomplishments.
- all student work is fairly evaluated and no student has an inappropriate advantage over others.
- the academic and ethical development of all students is fostered.
- the reputation of the University for integrity in its teaching, research, and scholarship is maintained and enhanced.
NOTE: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Resubmitting your own work that has previously been evaluated in this class or any other class.
- Copying text directly from websites and other sources without attributing the original source(s).
- Copying the work of students in other sections (past or present) of this course.
Failure to uphold these principles of academic integrity threatens both the reputation of the University and the value of the degrees awarded to its students. Every member of the University community therefore bears a responsibility for ensuring that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld.
NOTE: To help protect you, and future students, from plagiarism, all essay assignments will be submitted through Turnitin.com.
Attendance and Participation Policy
Students are expected to actively participate in all of the online activities for the course. Attendance in the online sessions is determined by thorough, thoughtful, relevant and on time contributions made in the weekly assignments including threaded discussions, reaction papers and quizzes. The course proceeds with the assumption that students have thoughtfully read and reviewed the assigned materials.
Students are responsible for completion of all assigned readings, materials discussed and assignments on or before the assigned due date.
Student Wellness Services
Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
848-932-7884 | 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professional within Rutgers Health services to support students' efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.
Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)
848-932-1181 | 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty. To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.
Disability Services
848-445-6800 | Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation.
If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS website.
Scarlet Listeners
732-247-5555 | scarlet.listeners@gmail.com
Free and confidential peer counseling and referral hotline, providing a comforting and supportive safe space.