Week 9
Team dynamics can be tricky. What if one person in a team is not working? What if someone is being ignored, separating from the team, getting behind and giving up, or asking questions without getting a response from their peers? If this occurs you will want to intervene in order to help the team get back on track. You may want to have a private conversation with that person or with the team about what is happening.
Finding a way for that student to reconnect with the team is important. You might ask the team: “What problem are you all on?”, “How come ____ doesn’t have this information?” or “Let’s discuss how you did this problem.” Try to understand the situation leading to the dynamics you are observing, but place responsibility for fixing it on the team whenever possible. Encourage students to invite each other’s participation, to give time for people to think before discussing, and to listen to each other’s questions and ideas. Once the students are reconnected, you can continue circulating around the room, but come back to check that the team is continuing to work together.
You might also consider using a specific study team strategy to bring the isolated student into the conversation as an important part of the team. One possible strategy is a Huddle where that person is given important information to take back to the team.
Video of Huddle
Team dynamics can be tricky. What if one person in a team is not working? What if someone is being ignored, separating from the team, getting behind and giving up, or asking questions without getting a response from their peers? If this occurs you will want to intervene in order to help the team get back on track. You may want to have a private conversation with that person or with the team about what is happening.
Finding a way for that student to reconnect with the team is important. You might ask the team: “What problem are you all on?”, “How come ____ doesn’t have this information?” or “Let’s discuss how you did this problem.” Try to understand the situation leading to the dynamics you are observing, but place responsibility for fixing it on the team whenever possible. Encourage students to invite each other’s participation, to give time for people to think before discussing, and to listen to each other’s questions and ideas. Once the students are reconnected, you can continue circulating around the room, but come back to check that the team is continuing to work together.
You might also consider using a specific study team strategy to bring the isolated student into the conversation as an important part of the team. One possible strategy is a Huddle where that person is given important information to take back to the team.
Video of Huddle