Teamwork Findings

Last week, students were placed into teams to complete four different challenges.  Each challenge required teams to communicate, compromise, problem-solve, etc.. Upon each challenge, we discussed "Things that made the Challenge Easier" and "Challenges".

Here is what we came up with:


Teamwork Strategies:

•  Large group allowed people to play different roles
• Use people's strength (e.g. if they are good at speaking, allow them to present)
• Flexibility; being open-minded
• Role choosing
• Identify common language to better explain ideas
• Good teamwork
• Modeling when you mean
• Being descriptive when explaining
• Have a good sense of humor
• Explain in different ways

Challenges

• Number of people made things more complicated
• Group members doing their own thing
• Materials provided were not enough
• No leader to lead the team
• One person who “drops the ball” affects the whole group
• When one person panics, everyone else does too
• Time pressure
• Having a hard time explaining thoughts
• A loud room
• Memory issues
• When group members disagree

We then discussed how their findings apply to Grade 6.  We will have a lot of group work (partners, groups) that will require us to utilize our teamwork strategies.

Please continue this discussion with them at home.