Here is Littlejohn's model of a organizational system.
Chapter 1 of your text outline the process of group behavior as taking place in a sequence of three steps - Input, Throughput and Output.
Assignment - Food for thought -
Think about any class you took last semester- write out a list of the input, output, and throughput for that group (class).
Be prepared to discuss in class. Post answers in the comment section.
In my seminar class last semester, it was all dicussion driven. Input: For homework each student read the same material and had question we had to answer as we went along. Throughput: The following class we would come together and talk about the questions, but mostly the book itself and how our opinions of food had changed. The output would be the grade we recieved in the class since ten percent came from participation.
ReplyDeleteI was in a linked cohort last semester of Lit and the Stage paired with the Theatre Experience. We had a dramaturg group project in this class, which was a huge project.
ReplyDeleteInput: We were put into a group, not able to choose it. We all had ideas about where the project should go and who should do what.
Throughput: We each had our own area that we researched and we came together as a group to write the paper and make the binder. Some people were busy so we worked around that.
Output: We had a tremendous overall project and we received a great grade. We were inspired to do good for the rest of the class, as the teacher felt good about this process for future classes.
I was in a Philosophy class last semester called "Beauty and Aesthetics." The class was very discussion based. Input: Each student had different views on the meaning of beauty and how it effected people and our world. Also, students had different levels of knowledge on Philosopher's ideas (Plato, Aristotle, etc). The teacher had much experience studying the subject and had strong views as well. Throughput: Everyone in the class shared their opinions and knowledge of beauty, allowing people to agree or disagree with them. The teacher allowed us to have our own opinions but attempted to teach her viewpoint to the class. Output: As a class, we came to mutual agreements and a common understanding of beauty and aesthetics in our world. We learned so much through each others ideas and the teachers lectures. At the end of the class, all the students were a pretty close group and we had learned a lot together. *Our grades showed accordingly.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful class.
I attended a class last semester called Vocation and Christian Life , a class designed to introduce new Religion majors to the major as well as to give them a sense of what they may be called to vocationally. Input : expectations of the students as well as hopes , dreams , plans , and any prior sense of calling to a specific vocation within the ministry. As well as contributions of assignments , meetings with , poems and essays from , the instructor and dean of the school of religion. Throughput : The working through assignments of an introspective nature as well as group conversation of the texts we read and theological ponderings we were guided through. Output : I would say that atleast some of the students who took this course left it with some increased sense of who and where they are in their vocation as well as a greater sense of what it is to be a religion major. Although some did leave frustrated and feeling as though their time had been wasted , I would say because of ineffective use of the throughput period.
ReplyDeleteLast semester, I enrolled in Dr. May's American Government Class. To my surprise it was not what I had anticipated. The class what emotionally draining, mental stimulating and best class I have had since my enrollment at Belmont. Some of my inputs I contribute to the course were my outside knowledge, interest in American Government, and time that I could give this class. The process that Dr. May took us through were class discussions, lectures, outside readings, text book readings and tests that took form of an essay or multiple choices. To get through this course I needed a study group, a tutor, some time for myself to go over the material, good organizational skills, critical thinking skills, give up the idea that sleep is important, some patience and most of all; COFFEE. The outputs of the course were enhances reading and critical thinking skills, strong organizational skills, time management skills, increased knowledge of the development of the American Government Skills and other functions of both the system and political organizations and parties. Great Class and only can offer my highest recommendation for you to get it into if you’re in need of a social science credit!!
ReplyDeleteLast semester I took a Mass Media course. We discussed everything from books and newspapers to music and movies, as well as their impact on the world. We are a technology driven society, and each era is shaped by something entirely different.
ReplyDeleteInput: We all had our own ideas and knowledge about the various aspects of media. Some knew more about certain authors, while others were very knowledgeable about music artists and the film industry.
Throughput: We exchanged ideas and discussed both the past and present forms of each type of media as well as the various impacts each had on society. The professor has had extensive field experience in several areas, which greatly added to the conversation(also input).
Output: Each student was assigned a different mass media to do a little more research on and then present it to class. We took what we learned in class about the past and present and looked at the patterns/trends of society and put it together towards our end goal which was to predict where we personally saw that media form going in the future.
last semester, I was in my Jr. Cornerstone, which was called Nuclear Terrorism. The class was very much about problem solving. Because the Jr. Cornerstone is meant to get you to work in groups and interact with people who you normally wouldn't, there was a lot of input, throughput, and output.
ReplyDeleteInput: We all came in with our knowledge of how to problem solve and the ways we could work together in finishing the task assigned in an orderly and timely manner.
Throughput: When we were given the problem, we all worked together as a team to set aside our differences in problem solving and really make a good group decision that everyone agreed with. We all would do research when needed and meet outside of class in order to solve the problems at hand.
Output: after working in our groups all semester we wrote a group paper on our topics (ours was The Psychological Effects of Terrorist Attacks)and do a presentation where each person spoke for 10 minutes.The class taught me a lot about how to work in a group with people that i normally wouldn't get along with and it taught me how to be more efficient with my problem solving skills along with the questions I would ask in order to get to the conclusion.
In my Junior Cornerstone, Feminism in Film, we watched and discussed a lot of films and specifically how the roles of women were depicted. The class was split into groups, and each group had to make a film that creatively displayed gender roles.
ReplyDeleteInput: Different members of the class knew more than others about film, while others know more about Feminism, and this knowledge strengthened the class discussions.
Throughput: Once the class was divided into groups we began discussing what specific lessons from the class we wanted to depict in our film. We wrote our script and then shot the film all while collaborating as a group.
Output: As a group we completed our film and showed it to the class. We had taken what we learned about film and gender roles in film, and applied the lessons our teacher wanted us to include, to create our film.
Last semester I took an International Public Relations class with professor Pam Parry. It was a great class! The inputs that I was able to give to the class were my interest in international business, previous research of international public relations firms, and any contribution that I could make during discussions in class. Pam taught us all how to pay attention to great detail when dealing with international businesses, and how to become very knowledgable of the country you are consulting with. Also, she took us on a few "field trips" to PR firms and businesses in the Nashville area. The output from the class was the knowledge that I now have of how international business is conducted, and the importance of publice relations when doing so. Also, I was able to be inside PR firms here in Nashville and really see how business is conducted on a day to day basis.
ReplyDeleteI took a world's religions course last semester that in which we were required to work in a group on several different projects and one large research project that we gave a convocation presentation for. For the last research project the input was that the group brainstormed to decide which religion the group wanted to do their project on and what specific aspect of the religion's community service that the project should be focused on. The throughput was the hands on research conducted by the group to obtain their information and knowledge about the religion. This consisted of interviews, attending a church service, and secondary research. The output was putting the research all together for the presentation and an accompanying paper that recapped the whole process.
ReplyDeleteLast semester, I took a family communications class. The class itself was about the inputs and outputs of family communication. However, we were given the assignment to record someone's life story. The input of the group was brainstorming about what things were important in life. We discussed our own stories and what parts of our lives or parents lives seemed memorable. The throughput was actually asking the person and recording the person's life story and editing it as a group. The output was a presentation for the class and also for the person's family.
ReplyDeleteLast semester I took Dr. Lindsey's Theories of Public Communication.
ReplyDeleteInput: Each individual's personal experiences with public communication, media exposure of public comm., and communication theories from historical and modern accounts (Gorgias, the Sophists, Plato, Aristotle, Burke, etc).
Throughput: The study and analysis of theories, writing exercises dissecting and elaborating on theoretical lessons, and class discussion of written papers.
Output: A broad knowledge of comm. theory, better understanding of current public comm. procedures and motives, enhanced writing/speaking skills, written compilation portfolio, and class grade.
One of the classes where this system was most clearly defined for me was my Project Management class. In the class towards the end of the year we had to design and implement all of the planning for a public service process, then possibly execute it and create a nonprofit organization or the like. During this process there were many different inputs as to what projects we should even choose; once the activity was chosen there was much throughput as to how one would go about completing these tasks (which was a task unto itself) as well as much collaborative research and group-work accomplishing goals. Overall the visible output of the class was (among other things) a community garden on Belmont's campus - proving that teamwork does flow in a series of cyclical thought processes.
ReplyDelete