Unit 2 Collaboration Lesson 1
Effectively working in groups:
Working in groups allow for the use of “group thinking.” It would require an amazing individual working alone to see all possible approaches to solving a problem, and foresee all possible results, both intentional and unintentional. Most people have a “typical” way of approaching situations, and a typical viewpoint. Some people are able to expand their vision to consider other options, but they are limited by their own training, knowledge, and experience. They have no context to imagine approaches or consequences that they have never experienced or been informed about.
Group thinking brings in multiple experiences and mindsets. Additional people have had different training and different experiences, and therefore see different things. They can provide those additional insights in planning sessions, and try different techniques to reach solutions faster and reach better solutions. They can also be looking for or preventing different possible outcomes.
Groups provide an additional benefit to students -- they can draw upon other group members for support. Nobody knows everything, but if you get a large enough number of people together, their diverse past experiences, natural talents, and learned skills can complement and accumulate. It is likely that someone in the group has an inkling about an aspect or process necessary that other group members do not have. That is why the sharing of ideas is crucial to the success of a collaborative learning group.
Groups versus teams:
It’s important at this point to differentiate between groups and teams. While I may use those terms interchangeably during this course, ideally you will be operating as a TEAM. A group is a collection of people or objects. There doesn’t have to be anything in common with the individuals in the group. A team, however, is a group of people united for a common goal. They share a common focus, and work together to produce a common desired result.
What makes an Effective Team?
An old adage is that “teams are only as strong as their weakest member.” In 12 years of working with and leading teams, I have discovered that this adage is false. That adage may be accurate for weak teams, but strong teams have a synergy that allows them to excel beyond their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Another interesting phenomenon is the idea of a “group mind.” That refers to the situation when the team members are working together and, as a result, see and realize things that none of them would have thought of alone. Somehow, sharing ideas and discussing the situation opens up more creative thinking, extending each person’s intuitive skills.
The most crucial aspect that contributes to effectiveness is a sharing of duties. If a smaller number of team members control everything, the synergy and “group mind” potentials are shut down. The team members not in control resent the treatment they are receiving, and refuse to participate. For a team to be truly effective, there must be a fair and equitable sharing of responsibilities. That doesn’t mean that team members can’t work together on items, but each team member must feel that they are contributing to the final result.
Helpful references for team building and group dynamics:
How to Build a Team
Building an Effective Team
Characteristics of a Great Team