Introduction to Group Work

As of the second week, you will complete a Group Activity each week that requires you to work with your group. You will need a web camera and microphone for your Zoom meetings. These are discussed in the Equipment section below.

An important tool that you will be using to do your weekly group work is the German Grammar Cruncher Language Learning Application. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the Grammar Cruncher Directions and Concept before your first Group Activity in the second week.

Your weekly Group Work assignment is highly weighted. It counts for 30% of your final grade. Typically, recordings last about 25 to 30 minutes. There is a rubric for each Group Work. You can go to the Group Work from the links below, or from within the module pages.

Group Work Week 2
Group Work Week 3
Group Work Week 4
Group Work Week 5
Group Work Week 6
Group Work Week 7
Group Work Week 8
Group Work Week 9
Group Work Week 10
Group Work Week 11
Group Work Week 12
Group Work Week 13

Joining a Group

If you have not already joined a group, go to the Group Creation Discussion board to find other students who are trying to form a group. Once you've decided which group you want to join, go to the People tab and click "Join" to add yourself to the GER1126 group you want to join. You have until the last day of drop/add to join a group, after that point your instructor will place you into a group if you have not already joined one.

Tools & Equipment

Groups -You will stay in the group with which you begin for the remainder of the semester, barring any changes deemed necessary by the course instructor. Once you know who your other group members are, you may use the course "Inbox" tool to coordinate all group meetings with them. Read the Canvas Guides at the bottom of this page to familiarize yourself with Groups.
Equipment - You will need to purchase a web camera and a headset with a good microphone for this course. Make sure you have a good headset with a good microphone to suppress disruptive feedback and guarantee a high quality of your recordings. Before each recording, be sure to test your microphone, speakers, camera, and connect with your other group members.
Recording Tips -

Do not lie on a bed or sofa while recording, but sit comfortably straight on a chair. Your voice will be much clearer.
Set your camera to the highest image quality.
Avoid sitting in front of a window or any other strong light source. Your group members and your instructor want to see you.
If you have any technical difficulties, make sure you take care of them by consulting with the UF Computing Helpdesk.

Be Prepared!

Group Activities are the place to show and practice what you have ALREADY learned, not the place to begin studying things for the first time!
If you are prepared, as you should be, group activities should rarely take longer than 15-20 minutes (it may take a bit longer at the beginning until you have become familiar with the routine).
If your performance in the activities is taking too long -- in a manner that indicates lack of preparation -- points will be deducted from your grade.

Recording

How to Create or Join a Zoom Conference

Group needs to pick a time to meet
Make sure your group has chosen a meeting host
Meeting host needs to go to Zoom at ufl.zoom.us (Links to an external site.) and follow these steps:

click UFL sign in
Copy personal meeting room ID and share with group members

Everyone clicks that link at the meeting time
Meeting host clicks Record to Cloud when everyone is present.
When you are finished, meeting host clicks End Meeting

To submit your recording:

Meeting host will receive an email link with the Zoom cloud recording.

View Zoom Tutorial Video (Links to an external site.)

(Links to an external sit

Submission

The group leader will be responsible for submitting a word document to the assignment page. The Word document should include the URL link of the group's Zoom recording, along with each group member's written work (if any is required) for the assignment. Please be sure to label each person's work so it is clear what each student has submitted.

Be sure to review and follow the General Guidelines for Submission of Group Assignments before submitting.

Canvas Guides

These Canvas Guides will help you understand how to work in your Group:

Visual Guides

Finding and Working in your Group (PDF) Download Finding and Working in your Group (PDF)

German Grammar Cruncher Application

The German Grammar Cruncher online language learning application will be available in the group activities for you to work with the respective module's vocabulary on a strictly voluntary basis. For more information about what you can do with the German Grammar Cruncher, click on the icon for more information: