Team Contracts We can work together! Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 1

Has this happened to you before? Teacher gives you a Major or Big group project, assigns you to your teams, and tells you to begin to brainstorm ideas. The team brainstorms numerous good ideas, but no one takes any notes. At the end of class you all leave thinking your are ready to tackle and “A”ce this project over the next few weeks. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 2

You begin to work on the project but it seems only one or two people are working. You become frustrated and stop working and arguments begin. Teacher steps in to mediate, the team says they are ready to work now and requests more time from the teacher to work on their ideas but they really don’t get anything accomplished. Over the next few days… 3 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

One of the team members gets frustrated and takes on the whole project in order to pass the class and tells the others to just be quiet and let them get it done. Finally the other team members feel “guilty” and finally they begin to work as a team. Everyone takes on a part of it, some larger parts but at least they are kind of working together now. Towards the end… 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Unfortunately…….. It’s often too little, too late. They missed the chance to form a real team and the unequal work load causes animosity and bad feelings towards each other that just never go away. 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

The final major project looks like the last minute mess that it is, because the team finally started working together but too late. The “Team” gets a poor or low grade. The team blames this on each other - vows to NEVER work with each other EVER again. In the end… 6 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

How could this “train wreck” of a non functioning team have been avoided??? 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

The answer is to come up with your own team contract! It’s actually simple…. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 8

Team Contracts… Teams that don’t set up common guidelines or “ground rules” from the very start almost always turn into a “train wreck” blaming each other for the poor work. Creating a Team Contract BEFORE you begin the actual project is the best way to get a team started off on the right track. Each team member must have input into the contract and sign it so that everyone has equal and individual “ownership” of it. 9 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Team Contracts must….. For them to be effective or to “work” they must address such issues as: Each person agreed to Responsibilities and Behavior Expectations How you agree to Communicate as a Team What is the expected Participation for each Team Member How you will Make Decisions and Problem Solve things What you will do when you have a Disagreement (its going to happen!) What will you do if you need to meet and work outside of class The Consequences for not following through on these Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 10

Facilitator – makes sure all members have an opportunity to participate Team Roles….. Agree to the assignment of certain specific Team Roles: These roles may/should rotate as needed. 11 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Team Roles (cont’d.)….. Mediator – keeps the discussion directed Recorder – makes written records 12 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Here is the most commonly asked question. What assumed Position or role may be missing? Do you think a role is missing? 13 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

The team needs “leadership”, not a designated leader! In the Team Contract there is often NO need to have just one person assigned as the team leader. Leadership should be something that shifts and changes with each team member’s strength or knowledge needed to complete a step in that particular task or problem. This can prevent many problems in the group dynamics as everyone is given a chance for input to the team as a whole. 14 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

So how do we do this? In your groups you must first work together to create and sign your Team Contract. It must cover: Communications = how you agree to speak to each other in and out of class meetings as needed Participation = responsibilities of the each individual team member Decision Making and Problem Solving Responsibilities and Expectations = team goals, what you all agree your strengths are and what each person should take the lead on based on your strengths Methods for Managing Disagreements (again they WILL happen) Conduct during Meetings = who is going to be: facilitator, mediator, or recorder 15 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Sample Team Contract Team A We pledge to follow the Golden Rule. We will work together to complete group work and labs. When meetings are established, we will do our best to attend and come prepared and on time. When working together, we will help to establish a positive work environment. If problems arise, they will be discussed with any or all of the team members. Each team member must have input at every meeting. No member will have a permanent job as jobs will be flexible and go with each person’s strengths 16 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Sample Team Contract Team B – Part 1 Group Organization Two team meetings to be scheduled before the end of class every Monday. Check regularly and stay in contact with team members Minimize absences and inform team members prior to absence. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 17

Sample Team Contract Team B – Part 2 Meeting Format Focus on current task and work to accomplish it before moving on to other business. Work efficiently during team meetings and minimize tangent conversations. Major decisions always involve three or four team members present. Keep team members informed as to all important issues and concerns - no surprises. Any divisive issues are to be discussed thoroughly before any voting is done. Document all group discussions and collective ideas. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 18

Sample Team Contract Team B – Part 3 General Guidelines Address personal or work problems as they arise. Always turn in journals and remind other team members to do so. Divide work fairly and discuss any problems. Arrive at class meetings on time and be prepared to work. Be open to all new ideas. Keep good documentation of your work and distribute it to others. This team agreement is open to modification and will be reviewed regularly. 19 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Questions? Share how this has happened to you? Do you think a Team Contract would have helped you in past projects? 20 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Team Contract Planning 21 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Planning and Rubric 22 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

References Team Agreements (PowerPoint), Gateway Engineering Education Coalition, The Ohio State University, Project Management and Teamwork, Karl A. Smith, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Using Student Teams in the Classroom: A Faculty Guide, Ruth Federman Stein and Sandra Hurd, Anker Publishing Co., Bolton, MA, 2000, p Tools and Tactics for Design, Peter G. Dominick et al, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.