Nancy Hickson / Communication Studies
GIFTS Workshop
May 4, 2011
Group Work Presentation
Rationale:
To provide an opportunity for students to connect classroom content with “reallife” communication issues.
Description:
There are 16 scenarios that reflect a variety of communication problems, including but not limited to; gender, ethnicity, culture, perception, education, media, location, health, age, sexual orientation and finances, etc. Once a group has selected a scenario, the task for the students is to analyze the problem(s) in the scenario, provide several immediate solutions and then hypothesize how these problems could have been avoided, or at least minimized.
Processing:
The students will form a group of 2-3 members. They will brainstorm:
- What are the communication problems?
- What are the immediate solutions to those problems?
- What are the long term solutions or avoidance techniques?
The group will have 2 class periods to prepare their presentation and the students will assign the individual speaking responsibilities according to the 3 divisions listed above.
The group presentations will be scheduled randomly over the course of 3 days.
Evaluation:
This is a shared grade and is worth 50 points. There is no make-up for this assignment. Each student must cite relevant excerpts from the text during their individual presentation. Although not required, visual aids are strongly encouraged.
Nancy Hickson / Communication Studies
GIFTS Workshop
May 4, 2011
Scenarios across the Curriculum
Health/NursingSociology/Psychology
TriageProblem
Diagnosis Solutions
Long termShort term
Long term
HistoryPhysical Ed./ Fire Science
ProblemProblem
AlliancesSolutions
SpeculationImmediate
Long term
English/CompositionMusic/Art
ProblemTime/Location
Re-write EndingPolitics/Culture
Speculation
Economics/Math
Assets, Liabilities, Expenditures, Resources, Set up
Short term
Long term
Nancy Hickson
Communication Problem Scenarios
Directions: Choose one of the following problems to analyze for your Communication Group Work. There are several choices, however only one group per problem. (Choose Wisely... Choose First)
Scenario #1:
Margaret and Julie both work for the same company. They are approximately the same age and are in positions of middle management. They work well together, but do not see each other socially.
With the full knowledge of their boss, Margaret often has to miss work because of her son’s asthma problems. During these absences, Julie has stepped in to handle emergencies as they arise, but the bulk of Margaret’s work is left until she returns.
Lately, Julie has often been arriving late, leaving early, or taking extended lunch hours. She has a new “love interest” and has indicated, verbally and with body language, that she expects Margaret to “cover” for her. After all, hasn’t Julie done the same for Margaret?
Margaret is uncomfortable with this situation and their boss is not aware of Julie’s new liberties.
Scenario #2:
Brad and Megan work for the same company, but in different departments. They often run into each other in the break room, in the media lab and at management meetings. Megan has made obvious overtures towards Brad, both physically and through her body language. Co-workers in the company have commented that she is “hot” for him. Promotion in the company might depend on their ability to work together?
However, Brad is involved in a serious long term relationship. He and his partner, Phillip, have made a conscious effort to keep their relationship discreet. They feel that it would be detrimental to their careers at this time to disclose their partnership.
Megan wonders why Brad is so “unfriendly” and she has started to make comments to co-workers questioning Brad’s sexual orientation.
Scenario #3
John and Mary Beth own a child care business offering both pre-school and after school care. During the morning, they care for approximately 8-10 children, both girls and boys, between the ages of 2-5 years old. In the afternoon as many as 10 more youngsters, ages 6-11, join the group, for the after school program (both girls and boys).
The Chavez family has four children enrolled in John and Mary Beth’s child care; 3 arrive in the morning and stay all day, while an older son comes for 2 hours in the afternoon. Mary Beth has some concerns about the Chavez family, although John tells her to “mind her own business”.
The older son, Carlos Chavez, appears to be very physical with his siblings. Upon his arrival in the afternoon, he gives each of his siblings a big hug and a kiss on the mouth. When he reads them stories during the afternoon rest period, they often all lay together, “practically on top of each other,” according to Mary Beth. The younger children have made comments about sharing a bed on “movie nights” at home. Carlos is also very demonstrative with other children at the child care.
Scenario #4
Steven and Ellen have been married for 15 years. They have three children, the youngest of which is 6 years old and in kindergarten. Ellen works part time outside the home and both parents are home on weekends with the kids. However, in the last year, Steven and the two older kids have joined a bowling league. Often the three of them are gone at least one night a week and also on Saturday.
Ellen enjoys the time spent with the youngest child and she has never really participated in sports of any kind. Lately though, she is feeling a little out of sorts and perhaps even lonely. She tried to talk to Steven about the way she was feeling, but he was engrossed in watching a football game that day.
Since they are financially secure, Ellen does not need to work full time, but she wonders if she would enjoy the challenge of working full time. She also thinks that it might be fun to have one more child.
Scenario #5
Marilyn is a single parent with two teenage children and she works full time. She is also taking two night classes to improve her chances for a promotion at work. She has made a big effort to coordinate her work schedule and night classes, so that she would be available to take her son to piano lessons and attend her daughter’s afternoon volleyball games. Although she tries to leave the weekends open for some family activities, she often ends up doing homework during that time.
Even though her children have been supportive of her efforts to improve her professional expertise, and thus earn additional money, they seem to be withdrawing from her and are often difficult to get along with. They are becoming more and more unwilling to help out with dinner and chores. Her daughter is often gone to a friend’s house and her son stays in his room playing video games.
Scenario #6
Thomas is newly married to Susan, a very attractive woman. People often comment what a beautiful couple they make. Even through Thomas would be considered handsome by most people; it is clearly Susan who attracts the most attention. Sometimes at social gatherings, Thomas ends up feeling a little left out because people seem to prefer Susan’s company over his.
Lately, at family gatherings, Thomas finds himself sitting off to the side. On these occasions, his mother-in-law often comes over to sit with him. During these instances his mother-in-law frequently shares that she feels “left out” too, since her husband, Susan’s father, is usually some where drinking too much. She intimates that over time Thomas’ marriage, like hers, will leave him feeling lonely and angry. A few times she has acted like a co-conspirator, sharing ways that she has gotten even with her husband for his neglect.
Scenario #7
Silvia and Matthew have been married for many years. Their children are grown and out of the house. Both Silvia and Matthew work full time and are happy in their occupations.
A few years ago, Matthew decided to parlay his skills as a fisherman into a part time business. On holidays, vacations and weekends he is often hired as a fishing guide for individuals, as well as groups. He thoroughly enjoys this sideline and has set up a business account for this new adventure. All the money he earns as a guide goes into this account. He uses the money to buy a bigger and better boat every few years, and to update his equipment. Additionally, Matthew goes on week long hunting trips every year with friends of his from college.
Since Silvia does not enjoy the outdoors, she has developed her own set of interests. However, she would like to do some traveling with Matthew. When she has suggested going on a cruise or traveling to Europe, he says that they can’t afford it. Silvia thinks they could finance these trips with money from his guide service, but Matthew says that it is a “business account.” Besides, he intends to use the equity from his business to help finance their retirement.
Scenario #8
Colleen and Richard would like to get married. They have been seriously dating for over two years. They are in their last year of college and hope to be married during the summer after graduation. They seem to be perfectly suited, with one exception-Colleen was raised a Catholic and Richard’s family is Jewish. Although Richard and Colleen did not purposely hide their religious affiliation from each others’ parents, they haven’t exactly been totally truthful.
Colleen’s parents are very involved in their Catholic church and have often spoken with pride that Colleen will be married in the same church where they exchanged their vows! On the other hand, Richard’s parents, although fond of Colleen, assume that when Richard does finally settle down he will choose a respectable wife, not a gentile.
Scenario #9
When Allen married Bonnie, he not only became a husband, but also a step-father. Bonnies’ two children, a boy of eight and a 10 year old girl, live with them in the house that Allen owned long before he met Bonnie. The children’s birth father lives about an hour away with his new wife and their baby.
A craftsman of sorts, Allen has been remodeling and refurbishing the house for
several years. It is now one of the nicer homes in the area and Allen gets a great deal of satisfaction from his efforts.
According to Allen, Bonnie’s children are not very appreciative of what he has provided them. They often complain that they have to share a bathroom, and Allen notices dents in the woodwork and stains on the carpet. He bought them a dog for Christmas, but the dog is usually ignored and has taken to digging up the backyard; one plant at a time.
Scenario #10
Christine has been with the same company for about six years. She was recently promoted, along with four others, and now heads a department with almost 20 people working under her. In addition to her new status, she earned a substantial pay increase. To celebrate their promotion, the five new department heads went out for drinks and dinner last month after a late staff meeting.
Since that social gathering, Gary, one of the five new department heads, has been making suggestive comments to Christine. Gary knows that Christine is single, so he offers to “help her out of her loneliness.” Because of their new responsibilities they often must work closely together. Gary makes it a point to mention how much he likes her hair, or he comments on how nice she smells, or how well her clothing accents her shape. On occasion, he has brushed against Christine in a sexual way.
Scenario #11
Hank and his wife recently attended a company party for a manager who was retiring. At the party, Hank found himself cornered by Lisa, the boss’s wife. Lisa had already had too much to drink, and she had apparently chosen him as her confidant. Almost immediately Lisa, whom he has met only once before, began telling Hank intimate details about her marriage. Whenever Hank tried to excuse himself, Lisa would hold on to his arm and start crying that she “really needed his friendship.” Once she was composed, Lisa would start in again with family secrets, branching out into company gossip that her husband, the boss, had told her.
Almost on a weekly basis, Hank plays golf with his boss. Lately, the boss has been making suggestions that they should get the wives and the four of them can do some things together. Hank knows that seeing the boss socially is good for his career.
Scenario #12
Carolyn has opted to work the night shift at the hospital so that she can be home during the day with her kids. Usually the pace is not so hectic on this shift, and Carolyn enjoys the closer camaraderie with the other nurses. There is a lot of paper work on this shift, left over if the day has been busy. Although she is not a fast typist, Carolyn always gets her work done, even if she is a little slow and the other nurses joke about their “lack of” proficiency, but they are all trying to master the hospitals computerized system.
It never seems to fail that Dr. McCarthy is on duty when Carolyn has a huge pile of typing to do. He often berates her for her slowness, and makes rude comments that his younger daughter is more proficient on a key board than Carolyn is. Sometimes when he goes by her station, he rolls his eyes and smirks at her. Dr. McCarthy is quick to point out errors to her, and he hints that Carolyn might be replaced if she can’t keep up with her responsibilities.
Scenario #13
Frank has worked in sales with the same company for over 25 years. He is often the top salesperson. Frank has clients all over the country, many of whom have been with him since the beginning of his career. He plans to work another 5 years, even though his long time boss will retire this year. Frank has heard that the company is bringing in someone from the mid-west to head the company once his boss leaves.
Last spring, Frank was off work for 6 weeks because of complications from by-pass surgery. During that time, another salesperson, Mark, took care of Frank’s clients. Mark is much younger and has a great sense of humor. Frank’s clients frequently remark that they miss hearing those jokes that Mark used to share. Also, Frank has noticed that if he is out of the office when a client calls, the secretary forwards the call to Mark, instead of taking a message, as was previously done.
Scenario #14
The Smith’s saved for years until they were finally able to buy their dream house. They poured their life’ savings into the house, not to mention the weekends spent fixing up the yard. Part of the reason that they chose the location, was that it was in a well established, up-scale neighborhood. The neighbors’ on both sides were friendly, and took equal pride in their property and homes.
Several months after the Smith’s moved in, the neighbors to their right were relocated and so that family sold their house and moved. When the Kincannon’s bought the house and moved in, the Smith’s were apprehensive. The Kincannon’s have several large dogs, a cat and three children; ages 10, 12, and 14 years old. In addition to their construction business, the Kincannon’s also apparently have several rental properties. They feel fortunate to have a side yard where they can store various equipment, materials and machines. They used to pay rent on a warehouse, but they have been able to pile it along the large area that backs up to the Smiths’ property. The Kincannon’s are not interested in building a fence to enclose their stuff because “the dogs will just dig under it and the kids need room to run.”
Scenario #15
Martha enjoys her job in a busy company where she has worked for three years. Because the company is relatively small, the 50 employees rotate schedules and days off every 6 months. The company operates 9-5 each day; seven days a week. Although there has been some grumbling on occasion, for the most part, the scheduling system has worked well because the employees see that everyone is treated equally. The company makes sure that the employees always have two days off together, even though the schedule rotates.
Recently, Martha and her family converted to a new religion. The church is well established in the town and the congregation always holds it services on Saturdays. Martha has been able to attend because of her current schedule. However, her schedule will be changing again soon and Martha has requested that she either have Friday and Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday as her permanent says off. Martha feels that because the Constitution protects her freedom of choice and freedom of religion, that this is not an unreasonable request.