Teamwork Tips
At eCYBERMISSION, students compete in teams of two to four under the guidance of an adult Team Advisor. As such, in order to succeed at eCYBERMISSION, students must first succeed at teamwork. Unfortunately, many students find working as a team difficult and may struggle with organization, role designation, or leadership. Here are some practical tips to help your students learn to work together.
Designate Team Roles
Working together is easiest when everyone knows what their responsibilities are. Before students do anything else, have them create a list of tasks that must be done to complete their project and decide who will do what. For example, during the research phase, one can focus on researching the causes of the problem, one can focus on the impacts, and one can focus on what solutions already exist.
Play to Student Strengths
Every student is unique. These differences (and similarities) are important in creating a good team and a great project. Assigning tasks based on student strengths helps put them in a place to succeed. If one student loves to read, make them the lead researcher. If one enjoys working with their hands, designate them as the leader in prototype development.
Ensure All Voices Are Heard
It is highly likely that some students will be more vocal than others. However, it is important to ensure that every team member’s voice is heard. In group discussions, encourage your students to take turns voicing their opinions or ideas. When making decisions, holding a vote can help ensure that students who may struggle to speak up still have an equal say.
Develop a System to Manage Disagreements
Regardless of how well a team works together, disagreements are inevitable. Encourage your students to think of a system to manage conflict before it occurs. This can be agreeing to make decisions by vote, taking a 10-minute break if arguments break out, or by creating a strategy of their own. The important thing is to decide ahead of time so that students know the protocol before issues arise.
Stick to a Schedule
A good way to keep a team working smoothly is to make a plan and stick to it. In addition to creating a list of tasks and roles, having students create a timeline for their project will keep them organized and functioning with minimal stress. Plus, you can rest assured that their Mission Folders will be complete by the March 1 deadline.
eCYBERMISSION registration is open until January 25 and Mission Folders are due March 1. Register today at www.ecybermission.com/register.
Faith Benner
Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist
Working together is easiest when everyone knows what their responsibilities are. Before students do anything else, have them create a list of tasks that must be done to complete their project and decide who will do what. For example, during the research phase, one can focus on researching the causes of the problem, one can focus on the impacts, and one can focus on what solutions already exist.
Play to Student Strengths
Every student is unique. These differences (and similarities) are important in creating a good team and a great project. Assigning tasks based on student strengths helps put them in a place to succeed. If one student loves to read, make them the lead researcher. If one enjoys working with their hands, designate them as the leader in prototype development.
Ensure All Voices Are Heard
It is highly likely that some students will be more vocal than others. However, it is important to ensure that every team member’s voice is heard. In group discussions, encourage your students to take turns voicing their opinions or ideas. When making decisions, holding a vote can help ensure that students who may struggle to speak up still have an equal say.
Develop a System to Manage Disagreements
Regardless of how well a team works together, disagreements are inevitable. Encourage your students to think of a system to manage conflict before it occurs. This can be agreeing to make decisions by vote, taking a 10-minute break if arguments break out, or by creating a strategy of their own. The important thing is to decide ahead of time so that students know the protocol before issues arise.
Stick to a Schedule
A good way to keep a team working smoothly is to make a plan and stick to it. In addition to creating a list of tasks and roles, having students create a timeline for their project will keep them organized and functioning with minimal stress. Plus, you can rest assured that their Mission Folders will be complete by the March 1 deadline.
eCYBERMISSION registration is open until January 25 and Mission Folders are due March 1. Register today at www.ecybermission.com/register.
Faith Benner
Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist
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