Michelle Carlin

Hi Gary,

I have also faced that same situation with students Online. I often use the same response or I inform students of how much their gaining learning different roles within the group environment and how valuable that is to employers. Take Care, Michelle

John Gorman

A previous section of these courses said that most people get fired from a job for poor social skills. It is crucial that a teacher prepare students to work together well and solve problems peacefully.

Jane Davis

What a great example, Leslie, of what occurs from the classroom to the boardroom!

Good job!

Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator

Leslie Aust

For game production/entertainment industry- it is always the team that gets the credit and the team/group who will combine their efforts to complete the project.

Much higher up the ladder, individual names will gain prominence within the industry based on work ethics, professionalism and importantly- track record of published works.

Marie Fagan

Hi,

I teach nursing students and part of what I attempt to foster is team building. Often times the nurse is the only advocate for the patient. They must deal with angry physicians, upset family members and overworked peers. They need the skills team building teaches them to be successful nurses and advocates for their patients. I am a big fan of team work and utilize it often both in the class room and at the clinical site.

Marie

Kimberly Pate

I relate working in a group much like any athletic team. There is not one sport that is an individualize sport. It takes a team to make things happens successfully. I am often greeted with” golf and/or tennis are an individualized sport”. Are they really? What about the coaches, the caddy’s and the many people who are behind the scences that we never see.

Did Tiger become the world’s greatest golfer alone? Did the William’s sisters make their mark in tennis alone? Did any pro quarterback or basketball player make it to the MVP status alone? No, they had a team behind them, whether they are visible or not, it takes a team to achieve success. Ask any architect, engineer, or IT professional whom their support service is and they are most likely going to give you details about their team.

Sure, you can do the project alone, but what about all that knowledge you are going to miss because you did not have anyone to brainstorm and share ideas. What about the simplistic errors because you did not have anyone to help proof your work for clarity and correctness? Take advantage of the group opportunity and learn not only the materials but also how to better interact with other people. You will need these skills in your professional career.

Jay Hollowell

Hi Mill and Mona!

As you note, being a team player is a critical workplace skill that extends beyond the necessary technical skills that we teach according to our disciplines. Effectively using student learning groups allows students to practice that skill; developing critical skills simply makes ouur students more employable.

Thanks for your comments,

Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator

Mill Caruso

Mona,
I agree every business requires working in groups and I often site being a team player as a major atribute employers look for!

Rasheedah blackwood

True. I always give real life experience stories of good and bad situations of working in the industry on a team.I let the students know that it is a skill that must be learned and mastered in order to succeed- this way, they realize that even if they are in a group that they don't wish to be in, they must figure out the best way to cope in order to get the project done.

Shantelle Johannesen

All the time! Everytime I have a group project there is at least one student, if not a handful, that would rather do the work on their own. I use the same statement, "Out in the corporate world you may have to work on a team project..." but there are still grumbles as they move along with the project.

Then there are the students that grumble about being in a group for a project, but if it hadn't been for the group the student would've failed on their own...

Mike Kalanty, CEPC, CCE,

Hi. I agree entirely with this scenario and how to handle it can be tricky. As a bread baker, you have to be able to work together with others, or else the work can not get done. The one thing I do is announce at the start of each course that students will all be given the opportunity to work with each other student throughout the course. The idea is that in a bakery, you don't need to even like the people you're with--often you speak a different language than most of them, so are already in the minority--so being task-focused and dividing out functions is a production skill all bakers need to learn. I re-assisgn groups every three or four days. By the end of the course, even students who felt they wanted to work alone have come to understand than working in a team is just like working alone, so long as each person defines the task that contributes to the whole job's getting done.

Mike kalanty
Asrtian Baker
California Culinary Academy

Charles Lovett

I have found out that employers are looking for two things - Documentation and Teamwork. The ability to communicate clearly both writen and orally is required for success in any given area. The ability to work as a team is also very essential not only in business but in other areas too. It is about the group dynamics and the ability to work with others that will determine the amount of career success that an individual will encounter. Hunman beings are social and will as a result interact with each other in ways that can be good or bad. As a result one needs to develope good social sills to effectively get along with others and make a contibution to society.

Gary Reinke

Hi Gilbert! I cannot think of one job that is a loner - I am sure there are some but we are trained or we train others. Gary

Gary Reinke

Thanks Mona! I agree. If students see a relationship, they accept the tasks,,Gary

Gary Reinke

Thanks Phyllis for your thoughts. I think you hit on an important thought - teams that work well together, perform well together. I have had many teams also and have seen the good students present good reports and struggling students struggle on group projects. Gary

Phyllis Parise

You bet. My class just did their final presentation on the 12th and 3 of the 4 groups were outstanding. The last group had a nightmare of an experience. This is somewhat the norm based on my classes. I understand the obstacles that a group encounters BUT I always stress the importance of it and how critical it is in the real world.

Cynthia Galbreath

Gary, I have to agree that few people actually work alone. Even if you are a delivery driver, you depend upon the person(s) that loaded your delivery vehicle. All of use are interdependent upon other people to get our jobs done.

I agree that holding fast to your principle of having the student work within the group is best. From time to time you do come across a group that is falling apart and students want to be placed in another group or work along. I have required them to work with the students that are actively participating in the group.

Gilbert Stouvenot

Mona, "I can think of very few professions that require someone to only work by themselves."
A cook can work in a team or by him/herself but I guaranty that the training to work alone will be quite different and not for everybody.

Mona Roberson

Hi Gary, I have had the same questions. Students must understand that it is critical to learn to work in groups/teams, not just in business, but in life. Business does require teams, for instance, if you are an architect or designer, you must work with the other professionals, ie engineers, landscape people, marketing people, contractors, speciality consultants, etc. Not to forget the client and his or her people. I can think of very few professions that require someone to only work by themselves. Even if you are a writer, you still need to deal with editors, publishers, all part of your team. I think that in education sometimes students don't get enough experience working in teams. Students tend to want to work with their friends or people they like, not always possible in business. I would like some ideas on general teams assignments that might apply to any class. Any ideas? Mona