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There are 4 modules in this course
Recently revised and updated! Effective teamwork and group communication are essential for your professional and personal success. In this course you will learn to: make better decisions, be more creative and innovative, manage conflict and work with difficult group members, negotiate for preferred outcomes, improve group communication in virtual environments, develop a better overall understanding of human interaction, and work more effectively as a team. Our goal is to help you understand these important dynamics of group communication and learn how to put them into practice to improve your overall teamwork.
Most people go through life running on the “factory-installed” version of communication: the transmission model. It works for simple exchanges, but it’s like trying to run the latest apps on outdated software—it just can’t keep up. In Module 1, you’ll get the upgrade. By exploring communication as social construction, you’ll see how meaning, understanding, and interpretation are the real drivers of group life. You’ll also uncover the hidden forces—like context, systems, and design—that shape every interaction. By the end, you’ll start seeing communication not as a background process, but as the engine of group success.
What's included
9 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 68 minutes
Introduction to the Course•7 minutes
Summary of Course•3 minutes
Theories of Communication•6 minutes
Communication as Transmission•8 minutes
Communication as Social Construction - Part 1•11 minutes
Communication as Social Construction - Part 2•6 minutes
Context (Professional and Civic, Difference Between Groups and Teams)•9 minutes
Interaction Design•9 minutes
Systems and Institutions•9 minutes
2 readings•Total 2 minutes
Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
Moving from Transmission to Social Construction•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
A Day in the Life of Rethinking Communication•30 minutes
Group Development & Decision Making
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
Groups don’t just “happen”—they grow, adapt, and sometimes crash. Module 2 shows you how. You’ll learn how roles, norms, and group cultures take shape, and how decision-making can go very right—or very wrong. We’ll explore common decision traps and how to avoid them, while also giving you tools to spark more creative, innovative outcomes. Think of this module as upgrading from “default group settings” to a more intentional, high-performance way of working together.
What's included
11 videos1 reading2 assignments
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 73 minutes
Importance of Group Development and Decision Making•6 minutes
Socialization, Norms, and Roles - Part 1•6 minutes
Socialization, Norms and Roles - Part 2•6 minutes
Phase Models of Group Development•9 minutes
Multiple Sequence Model of Group Development - Part 1•5 minutes
Multiple Sequence Model of Group Development - Part 2•5 minutes
Hidden Traps in Decision Making - Part 1•7 minutes
Hidden Traps in Decision Making - Part 2•6 minutes
Practices for Making Better Decisions•9 minutes
Creativity and Innovation - Part 1•8 minutes
Creativity and Innovation - Part 2•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Assignment Overview: "Decision Making Traps in Movies/Shows"•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 90 minutes
A Day in the Life of Decision Making •30 minutes
Decision Making Traps in Movies/Shows•60 minutes
Conflict, Difference, & Diversity
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
Conflict is often seen as a problem, but in Module 3 you’ll discover it’s actually one of your group’s most powerful resources—if you know how to handle it. You’ll practice strategies for turning disagreement into productive dialogue, and explore how difference and diversity make groups smarter and stronger. With a close look at identity and gender, this module helps you shift from avoiding or “managing” difference to leveraging it as a core advantage. It’s like unlocking the advanced features of your communication operating system—the ones that help you work better across differences and build more inclusive teams.
What's included
12 videos1 assignment
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 88 minutes
Importance of Managing Conflict and Appreciating Difference and Diversity•6 minutes
How to Have a Good Fight•10 minutes
Choosing the Right Words - Part 1•6 minutes
Choosing the Right Words - Part 2•6 minutes
Basics of Effective Negotiation - Part 1 •8 minutes
Basics of Effective Negotiation - Part 2•6 minutes
Diversity Matters - Part 1•9 minutes
Diversity Matters - Part 2•4 minutes
Understanding Identity - Part 1•8 minutes
Understanding Identity - Part 2•7 minutes
Communication and Gender - Part 1•10 minutes
Communication and Gender - Part 2•9 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Day in the Life of Difference and Diversity •30 minutes
Group Communication & Technology
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
Technology isn’t just a tool—it’s now the environment where most group work happens. In Module 4, you’ll learn how to navigate this digital landscape with confidence. From Zoom calls and hybrid meetings to AI tools and collaboration platforms, we’ll look at both the opportunities and the complications technology brings. You’ll also explore cutting-edge frameworks, like sociomateriality, to rethink how the social and material are entangled in modern teamwork. Think of this as upgrading to the pro version of your communication system—where you can handle complex, tech-mediated collaboration without losing the human connection that makes groups work.
What's included
9 videos1 reading2 assignments
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 87 minutes
Importance of Understanding Technology for Group Communication•6 minutes
Virtual Work•10 minutes
How Groups are Using Technology•16 minutes
Theories and Models of Communication Technology•12 minutes
Practical Considerations for Technology •10 minutes
Conceptual Considerations for Technology - Part 1•8 minutes
Conceptual Considerations for Technology - Part 2•7 minutes
Sociomateriality - Part 1•10 minutes
Sociomateriality - Part 2•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 1 minute
Suggested Readings•1 minute
2 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Day in the Life of Group Communication •30 minutes
Case Study Creation•90 minutes
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Learner reviews
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3,686 reviews
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3 stars
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2 stars
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5·
Reviewed on May 5, 2020
One begins to immediately observe the benefits of this course from week one, as it instantly improves how you communicate with others in groups and in everyday life.I absolutely recommend this course.
M
MR
5·
Reviewed on Apr 17, 2020
Thank you so much Mathew Sir, My Course instructor for the course where he is a very energetic person I have learnt the course successfully and earned the certificate too. Thank you Coursera.
B
BD
4·
Reviewed on Jul 14, 2020
The professor was great.I really liked the video clips (discussion about movies)animated visions were also interestingThanks for your time and consideration for teaching these materials.
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