Group Discussions

Description

Worth 4 x 5% = 20% of final grade.

An important way to develop and articulate your ideas and responses to course material is in conversation with your classmates. During the term, you will be divided into small groups for focused discussion. These discussions serve several purposes: they give you a sense of being ‘in the classroom’ by interacting with other students enrolled in the course; they allow you to put into words your questions and ideas regarding information and themes in the course; they help you develop clarity of thought as you articulate your ideas for others.

Group membership can be viewed from the Course Home page by clicking Connect and then Groups on the course navigation bar. If you are not in a group by the date indicated in the Course Schedule, please contact Technical Support at learnhelp@uwaterloo.ca. Technical support is available during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Eastern Time).

Here is how it works:

  1. There will be four group discussions. Each discussion will have several questions that you are invited to discuss with your group. You should have completed the content in the relevant module before beginning the discussion.
  2. You will be graded on your individual participation, not that of the group overall. Your grade is based on how well you demonstrate a good grasp of the material being discussed and how active you are in the discussion, according to the criteria under point 6 below.
  3. You will be assigned to a group of 5-7 students. You can find your group number and members from the Course Home page by clicking Connect and then Groups on the course navigation bar.
  4. The group discussions will occur using the group discussion forums. You are not expected to do 'real-time' chat, that is, you do not need to be logged on simultaneously for group discussions. Given the many different schedules of students in the course, this is usually very difficult to arrange. In fact, you can give better thought to discussion submissions if you are posting to your forum on your own time.
  5. Each student is responsible for participating appropriately in the discussion. If, for any reason, a student is unable to participate in the group discussion, that student is responsible for contacting the instructor and their group members to make alternate arrangements.
  6. Groups are free to discuss the assigned question(s) as much as they like. The minimum amount of participation expected is an initial posting with your responses to the question(s), followed by at least two additional response posts that respond to a classmate specifically or to the overall exchange. You can respond to all of the discussion questions in one post.
    1. Initial Post: Your initial posting should be made by the date listed in the Course Schedule. Your initial post for each question should be at least 150 words. This posting will likely be longer than your subsequent exchanges on a topic.
    2. Response Post(s): Your additional response should be made by the date listed in the Course Schedule. Postings do not need to be long. Nevertheless, don’t just respond with ‘I agree’ but offer a meaningful several-sentence addition to the conversation. 
  7. Please review: Online Discussions: Tips for Students.
  8. Your instructor will be monitoring your group discussions and providing feedback as appropriate.
  9. You are encouraged to express your opinions and ideas in an open manner, with respect for the diversity of identities and views in the class. A university course environment should be space for exploration and curiosity about ideas, accompanied by interest, respect, and compassion for others. Your instructor will be interjecting as needed, to provide important information or feedback on the quality of the discussion.

Discussion Breakdown

Group Discussion 1

This is the first meeting with your small group in the course.

  • Introduce yourself with the usual pleasantries – what academic program are you in? Why are you taking this course?
  • What criteria do you think should be used to assign the Nobel Peace Prize?
  • Are there any individuals on the list (from 1901 to the present) that you think should NOT have been awarded the prize? Why?
  • Can you identify an individual or organization in the world today that you think deserves the NPP? Why?

Group Discussion 2

Be sure you have viewed the film The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It before beginning the discussion.

  • The men who refused to enter military service in the Second World War took their stance for various reasons. Do you think their position was a valid one at the time?
  • What do you think about the responses of the government and the public to conscientious objectors during the war?

Group Discussion 3

  • What similarities do you see between the resistance movements explored in modules 6, 7, 8 (Gandhi, Civil Rights, WW2)?
  • What methods used by resistance movements do you think are most effective?
  • Do you think peace movements by definition have to be nonviolent?

Group Discussion 4

  • What kind of peace movement strategy do you think would be most effective in responding to climate change?
  • Can you see identify tactics and ideas from previous peace movements that would be effective in today’s world?
  • Which peace movement examined in the course do you find most compelling (interesting, surprising, important, etc.)?

Discussions can be accessed from the Course Home page by clicking Connect and then Discussions on the course navigation bar. Discussions are due by the deadlines specified in the Course Schedule.