UNIV 3535 Family Communication 3 Credit hours

Transcription

1 Course Information Course Description: UNIV 3535 Family Communication 3 Credit hours UNIV3535 Family Communication is a course, which examines and analyzes the concepts of family definitions, patterns, issues and communication systems. Identifying and understanding these concepts and systems will provide you with the tools and means to interact successfully within the families of your own homes and working environments. The styles and methods of interactions of families within generational, cultural and ethnical lifestyles are the basis for analysis of communication systems of any given family. Understanding and knowledge of these communication styles and patterns will enable you to have successful and meaningful relationships in our ever-changing contemporary culture of families in the United States. Course Objectives: Upon completion of Univ3535 students should be able to: 1) Analyze a family's communication system within its functions framework. 2) Recognize and describe communication patterns and rules in families you know or in media families. 3) Explain the multi-generational influences in a family's functioning. 4) Explain how culture influences multi-generational family communication patterns. 5) Identify and discuss destructive and constructive communication styles which affect each family member. FORMAT: UNIV3535 Family Communication is an online course. Teleclass episodes conducted by the instructor are also offered. The information in the text, the teleclass episodes, and the information provided in the course sites will provide you with information and knowledge to complete all study assignments, exercises and tests successfully. Any questions or concerns are directed to your professor via course and assignments are submitted in the dropbox provided. All questions will be answered by your professor within hours. It is recommended that you read your DAILY because important updates will be sent periodically. Prerequisites and Corequisites: none

2 Course Topics: Understanding the factors impacting family lifestyles, i.e. religious, governmental, ethnicity and cultural. Relationship issues of a family system, i.e., patterns of rituals, roles, power, intimacy, conflict and decision-making. Highlighted issues in family patterns in this course: gender, family diversity, ethnicity and family stories. Specific Course Requirements: none Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements Required Textbooks: Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:rodp Bookstore Supplementary Materials: Library materials from the virtual library will be assigned and are available to all students. Hardware Requirements: The minimum requirements can be found at Software Requirements: The minimum requirements can be found at Instructor Information Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information. Assessment and Grading Testing Procedures: Tests will be multiple choice, true/false and short answer. They will be timed tests within the course management software. Grading Procedure: See course content in Getting Started Module for grading procedures/rubrics.

3 Grading Scale: Two tests (100 points each)(mid-term & final) 200 Class assignments (8 with 50 points each) 400 Discussion assignments (4 with 50 pts. each 200 Final Paper 200 TOTAL 1, points---a points ---B points---c points---d Below 600 points -- F Assignments and Participation Assignments and Projects: One major writing assignment and several smaller assignments are required in Family Communication. A final research paper is the major assignment. Research Paper: Students will select a topic and demonstrate skills in exploring a specific issue covered in the course. The paper will be APA style, 5-10 pages in content and 8-10 sources including at least two from academic journals. Submit your proposed topic for the paper to the instructor and as soon as it is approved you may begin work on the research paper. As with all your work the research paper must be submitted before the final exam date. Late submissions will result in an automatic deduction of one letter grade. Important Note: Plagiarism will not be tolerated! An automatic F for the course is the penalty for plagiarism POSSIBLE PAPER TOPICS (1) Analysis of communication problems and/or issues in a real or fictional family (in a book, play, short magazine article, or from a TV show or movie which relates to the text and module material). (2) Communication problems within blended families or dual-career families. (3) Unplanned family issues, i.e., illness, teen pregnancy, abortion, death and divorce. (4) Dysfunctional family issues, i.e., alcoholism, substance abuse or family member serving time in prison. (only ONE topic for the paper)

4 Class Participation: Students must participate in all interactive aspects of the course, particularly the discussion assignments. Punctuality: Please see the calendar and drop box for due dates. There is a penalty for any late work. Course Ground Rules Your active participation in all group assignments is required. The guidelines for communications below apply to all course communication. Guidelines for Communications Always include a subject line. Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your s. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases. Use standard fonts. Do not send large attachments without permission. Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication. Respect the privacy of other class members Discussion Groups: Discussion topics will be assigned during the course for small groups. Discussion principles: Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker rather than a discussant. Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic. Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of others' ideas. Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.

5 Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks. Be positive and constructive in group discussions. Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner. Chat: Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session. Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements. Be concise in responding to others in the chat session. Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time. Be constructive in your comments and suggestion Web Resources: Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor Citation Styles Online Library The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. Students With Disabilities Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor. Syllabus Changes The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

6 Technical Support Telephone Support: Call Here First Hotline: Online: Technical Help for RODP/ROCE Students: This address is for Desire2Learn (D2L) help and is monitored on a rotating basis by all members of the RODP technical support department. Technical Help for RODP/ROCE Faculty: [email protected] This address is for Desire2Learn (D2L) help and is monitored on a rotating basis by all members of the RODP technical support department.