Steps for Forming Groups
Joining and Forming Groups may seem like a bit of an awkward online process but, believe it or not, it does work! So here are the basic steps:
(1) Now that everyone in the course has entered some background information in the "Introductions Formal and Informal" area in Discussion Forum, please look over any that you have not already read.(2) Read over ALL of the posts for Week #2 to see what students may have said about their research interests.
(3) Based on your reading of theses two discussion boards, send an email to anyone who may have a topic you are interested in or who has a topic that is in some way related you're your topic. In your email explain your interest and give the person your phone number and suggest some good times to give you a call. You can send emails through the discussion forum or look for a person's email address in the 'To' section of this email. You can click on the envelope under the person's name on the discussion board to send an email. In your email, be sure to include your telephone number and good time(s) to call you so you can get in contact more readily.
(4) In your discussions with potential group members, you do not have to come up with a fixed idea for your research study but you should be in close agreement about the topic.
(5) You should also begin talking about group process issues including time availability and preferred work style.
(a) Some people want to do things together while others would prefer to map out a rough draft and share it with others.
(b) Look through the assignments and due dates so you know what you need to be turning in and when.
(6) The optimal size for groups in our course seems to be 2 or 3 but 4 would be OK if you can coordinate your schedules and the work. Once you find one to a maximum of three other people who want to be in a group with you, one of you should send me an email with the names of all group members and topic by the date listed in the syllabus.
(7) Finally, as we said at the beginning of this note, if you can't find a partner, that's OK. Don't fret, send us an email or call and we'll find/create a group for you – although in may not be exactly in your area of primary interest.
If you have ANY questions about these instructions, please call or email us.