Group Thought Questions Questions and Answers

What are my expectations?

On certain weeks during the semester (weeks 1-3, 6-8, 11-12) you will participate in a small
group discussion and writing exercise. On such weeks I will pose a thought question that you
will work with your assigned online group to answer. The small group discussion will take place
in an online forum, with your final answer (no more than 250 words) constituting your last post.
The main goal of these group thought exercises is to stimulate critical thinking, and to foster
small learning groups that will facilitate overall learning and mastery of the course material.

The initial post should be a thoughtful attempt at answering the assigned Group Thought
Question. Simply saying I dont know is not sufficient. Your initial post is due by 11pm on
Wednesday in weeks where Group Thought Questions are assigned, and will be worth 5
points.

After making your initial post, you will be expected to follow your groups online discussion,
commenting on other group members posts indicating whether you agree, disagree, or
have anything to add. The goal is to build online consensus on the best answer to the
assigned question. Your participation in the ongoing deliberations from Friday to the next
Tuesday in weeks where Group Thought Questions are assigned, as well as adherence to
group rules will be worth 10 points.

The final group post should constitute a collective answer that all participating members of
the group have contributed to and agreed on. Your groups final post is due on by 11pm on
Sunday in weeks where a Group Thought Question is assigned, and will be worth 5 points.

Thus, a total of 20 points will be possible each week a Group Thought Question is assigned (8
Group Thought Questions x 20 points each = 160 total points possible, constituting almost 25%
of your final grade). You are referred to the document Group Thought Question Question and
Answers for further discussion and information.

What does a healthy group look like?

The first Thought Question (week 1) will ask you to engage your group in a discussion on how
your group will self-manage itself. Your discussion will culminate in a final post that outlines
your agreed upon group rules.
This first exercise is your groups opportunity to get started on the right foot. Although I have
imposed class deadlines for individual posts and each groups final post, you might consider
setting up other internal group deadlines for members subsequent discussion and/or
deliberation, as well as for the posting of a draft of the final post each week. Remember: there
will be seven assigned Thought Questions over the course of the semester. My target group
size will be 5 members each (although actual group sizes could vary due to a number of
circumstances beyond my control). Thus, each member of your group should be prepared to
make one or two final posts over the course of the semester. Decide among yourselves who
will handle the final post in each of these seven weeks. A list indicating who is responsible for
making the final post each week is strongly encouraged so that each member of your group
understands his/her responsibility in that regard.
Importantly, over the course of the semester I will be watching to see whether your group is
adhering to its pre-determined weekly deadlines, as well as how individual members of your
group are contributing to the overall success of the group, and assigning grades accordingly.
My hope is that the Group Thought exercises will become more than just a means to a grade,
and that you will come to rely on your group to help master course-related material beyond the
Thought Questions.

What actions might I take if a group isnt working?

Obviously, individual participation and adherence to group rules is key to the functioning of a
healthy group. However, on any given week, one of your group members may fail to participate,
or even fail to make a final post that he/she was responsible for. The first action I will take to
promote healthy group function is to penalize a group member who does not play by the group
rules. If you receive fewer than 20 points on a given week, it is likely because your group
participation wasnt up to snuff. Importantly, my goal will NOT be to penalize the entire group in
such circumstances (although another group member may need to actually make a final post
that was missed by an offending group member so that the points for the final post can be
awarded).
Unfortunately, penalizing someone by taking points away isnt always effective at promoting
good behavior (Im betting you have all known a student like that!). Thus, I reserve the right to
further penalize a group member who demonstrates habitual bad behavior. Such penalties may
include being forced to watch in horror as productive group members leave the group for other
smaller (and healthier) groups, or being dropped from a group altogether. Dont be that group
member.

How should I make inquiries about my effort, or the functioning of my small group?
If you have any questions about the Thought Questions at all, please message myself or the TA
via Canvas with your last name and small group number in the subject line.