Final Group Project(FGP): Service-Learning Problem-Solving

Small Group Communication

 

Point Value: 115 points total (broken down into several parts)

 

Assignment: Your final group project will be a semester-long service-learning project in which you will contribute to solving a problem locally. It must be of a charitable nature. Your project will have several entities including working together outside of the classroom, composing written work, and culminating in a group presentation at the end of the semester.

 

a.      Topic. Select a charitable subject. You will be required to spend a minimum of 6 hrs on a service helping others. In other words, you need to donate time, a service, or a product to someone or something else. You may work with an established organization, a not for profit agency or an individual or group in need. However, you may not simply go to a location and hand out items. You are to get the project approved by the instructor and then submit a letter from the instructor to be signed by a representative of the said project. (Signed form worth 10 pts) Remember you are representing Merced College while you work on this project—please be professional and appropriate in both communication and action. Your six hours must be worked together as a group because the service itself will be your research for your final paper. Remember to use the participant-observer perspective from Chapter 1.

1. Ideas may include, but are not restricted to:

                                                                          i.      Donated clothes to homeless or domestic abuse centers

                                                                        ii.      Volunteer at a hospital / convalescent hospital

                                                                      iii.      Volunteer to read to physically disabled individuals

                                                                       iv.      Volunteer at a charity office

                                                                         v.      Volunteer at an elementary school (with approval from principal)

                                                                       vi.      Select a beautification project for a school, even Merced College such as gardening

 

b.      Plan. (20 pts) You will have a set meeting day with the instructor to present in detail your plan. This will occur after you have had time to select your charitable goal and have had contact with someone on the other end of the service. Your group will informally present your service plan to the instructor. Take time to come with a plan including time lines, group goals, etc. The group will present to the instructor your plan only, no service hours are expected to have been completed by this date. (Also bring the signed bottom portion of the letter from the selected service person to the plan meeting).

a.      All group members will participate

b.      Your plans should include:

                                                                          i.      Your specific course of action to achieve the goal

1.      What is your project?

2.      How will your group work together on this?

3.      What communication are you creating among your group members?

4.      How is your group communicating with the community organization?

5.      What is your ultimate goal for this project?

 

c.      Paper. (50 pts) Your group will collectively submit one paper totaling no less than 1,000 words. Your paper will address the following issues:

a.      A discussion of how the various aspects of the Procedural Model of Problem-Solving P-MOPS played out in your group

                                                                          i.      Focus on the problem

                                                                        ii.      Generate possible ideas

                                                                      iii.      Evaluate ideas

                                                                       iv.      Decide on the solution

                                                                         v.      Implement the solution

b.      A discussion as to what concepts from the semester’s readings and lectures stick out about your group process / group dynamics in working together for this project? How would you evaluate your group communication skills? Was there clear evidence of teamwork? Provide specific examples.

 

d.      Presentation. (25 pts) Your group will present to the class your plan and project. Pictures are strongly encouraged, but not required. Visuals make for a more interesting presentation. Everyone must speak during this presentation. It must be clearly organized and well articulated. Proper English grammar and dress is expected. More direction will be given closer to mid-semester.

 

e.      Thank you card. (10 pts) A thank-you note, signed by all group members, and accompanied with a stamped enveloped addressed to the supervisor at the community based organization should be written, copied, and given to the instructor on the group’s scheduled presentation day.