Infusion of EWC Institute Material in Group Communication Classes at Fresno City College Lynn Badertscher

Communication is taught primarily as a General Education class Group Communication is one of five Comm classes that fulfill a GE requirement Institute material will not be taught as a unit in this class Instead it will be infused into several lectures during the semester Here are a few examples

Confucian Philosophy During Ethics Lecture Students will study traditional Western ethical theories and philosophers, including: –Greek philosophers –Situational ethics –Legal ethics –Etc. Confucian ideas will be infused into this lecture Kant Aristotle Russell Confucius Socrates

Core Values of Confucius Ren: Benevolence, Charity & Humanity Xin: Connection of Thought & Feeling Zhong: Equilibrium & Balance Li: Correct Behavior, Good Manners Propriety & Politeness Yi: Honesty and Appropriateness Confucius BCE Philosopher

How do these Confucian values apply to working in groups? Benevolence, Charity & Humanity? Connection of Thoughts and Feelings? Honesty and Appropriateness? Equilibrium & Balance? Correct Behavior, Good Manners Propriety & Politeness?

Confucian Philosophy During Leadership Lecture Students study a wide variety of leadership issues, including –Bases of power that contribute to leadership –Leadership roles –Functional leadership Confucian teachings on the “ideal man” will be included in this material

Confucian Philosophical Teachings on Leadership The major requirement for a good leader is to be a good person (ideal man)….. –Above all be virtuous -Rule wisely and fairly - Think first, then take action decisively

Are these Confucian ideas still viable? Practical? Effective? Do you see these ideas in any national or business leaders today? Would they be valuable in your groups?

Leaders should: “Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.” Confucius Analects II, 3 Confucian theory emphasized conflict resolution through mediation, in order to achieve social harmony. Asia for Educators, Columbia University |

Confucian Philosophy cont. Rituals are critical to establish and maintain leadership and group cohesion Groups are strengthened by establishing rituals –Why are rituals important? –What kind of rituals would benefit your group? Frequently meeting at a coffee shop Regular meetings at the library Lunch or dinner together

Infusion During Meeting Management Lecture Lectures will include information on how to lead and participate in group meetings One of the concepts focuses on the importance of meeting minutes

Importance of Group Recordkeeping One leadership responsibility is to make sure that records are kept of all group meetings. Meeting records are usually called minutes and include: Date, Time & Participants Decisions made Issues discussed Member assignments Plans made Without written records, it is easy to misremember what happened or for participants to have different memories

Modern meeting records Ancient Meeting Records Gathering of State Examination Alumni at Huigyeong Pavilion, 1567Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk; Dongguk University Museum, Seoul

Other issues Intercultural Communication –Symposium assignment Gender and Communication –Korean custom of female names Language lecture: –Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis discussion will include the Lao- Tzu Te-Tao Ching concept “As soon as we start to establish a system, we have names. And as soon as there are set names, …. It is time to stop.” chapter 32

Faculty Workshop Susana & I will be joining a faculty member from last year’s Institute in making a presentation to faculty in January Focus of Presentation: –What we learned at EWC –How are we using the material –Resources that we can share