Lesson Activities

Team Member Introductions (T, U)

Overview

To begin building your team, you need to meet with your team members virtually using the technology of your choice by the end of Lesson 1. Canvas provides several options for collaboration (See Groups in Canvas Orientation). Alternatively, teams have the option of creating collaboration groups via Microsoft Office 365 at Penn State.

You may also choose to meet virtually using Google Hangouts, Skype, or other tools for online conference communication. If you wish to record your team meeting sessions, you are strongly encouraged to use Zoom.

Instructions

1. Complete the Survey: Attitudes Toward Teamwork on page 24 of the Levi textbook (2020) before the team meeting.

2. In your team meeting, please share information related to the following:

   • Give your name and profession.
   • Describe what experience you have had, if any, working in teams.
   • Discuss any experience you have facilitating/leading teams.
   • Share a discovery from your professional experience that has helped you become a better team player.
   • Explain what you believe is the greatest challenge of team building. Describe techniques you have leveraged to enhance outcomes.
   • Share your Attitudes Toward Teamwork survey score, and comment on your attitude toward the task and social aspect of teamwork.

Activity Timelines

Day	Task
Before team meeting	Complete Attitudes Toward Teamwork survey
By Sunday	Meet with your team members

Additional Resources

Instructions for using Zoom are included in the Resources section of the Zoom at Penn State site.

Lesson 1 Discussion (I, G)

Overview

To further understand contemporary uses of teams, tell us how your organization uses teams and why teams are implemented at your organization.

Instructions

Please post your thoughts that include the followings:

• Where do you see the use of teams within your organization?
• What are the purposes of these teams (to server customers, to initiate/improve internal/external processes, to address/improve Quality of Work Life situations, to solve problems, etc.)? What are the goals of each team?
• What is the duration of the teams? Does /Do the team(s) disband after a period of time or reform?
• What has been the success record of teams within your organization?

I am challenging you to write concise responses of no more than 3–4 sentences.

Posting Timelines

Day	Task
Monday–Thursday	Post initial reply.
Friday–Sunday	Review fellow learners' posts and respond to at least two.

Lesson 1 Blog: Understand the Dual Roles (I, G)

Overview

Review the definition of a small group process facilitator on page 4 of the Kolb text, in addition to pages 7–10.

Instructions

Pick one of the dual role situations listed below. Discuss special challenges or confusion that occur because of the dual nature of those roles. How can these challenges be overcome?

• Facilitator vs. Subject Matter Expert
• Facilitator vs. Trainer
• Facilitator vs. Mediator
• Facilitator vs. Leader

Deliverable

Please post your responses to your blog site, and submit the URL for your blog post to this assignment.