Compass Work Style: Help Students Improve Teamwork Skills As you enter please write a career on the flip chart that many of your students are aspiring towards Anthony Pagán Long Beach City College Networking – Computer and Office Studies

Today Problems with group work Compass Activity Other tips on improving student group work This PowerPoint is available at www.AWPagan.com

Problems with group activities Activities that are not meaningful Students do not know how to be part of team Students lack self-awareness

The usual suspects Too cool Know it all Shy Unsure of self Super eager Images by Chuck Dillon Too cool Know it all Shy Unsure of self Won’t contribute Super eager

Student buy-in for compass activity As you enter, write your career goal on the board.

Rate your career What level of social interaction does your future career require? 3 - Very often interact with others 2 - Sometimes 1 - Rarely 0- Never interact with anyone

What might cause job dissatisfaction? Unfair wages Alienation Difficulties with co-workers Meaningless work Lack of power And much more

Do you know your work style? Before participating in group work it is useful to know your work style. Activity Goals: Self-awareness Understand how your work style impacts team functioning Enhance personal and team/group performance

What is your work style? Choose a direction by thinking about work and school settings: 1. What’s your first inclination when you get a new project/assignment? 2. What feedback have you been given? 3. What seems the most comfortable? 4. You must choose one only Don’t select based on where you are sitting or where you live

Likes to try things and plunge right in. Assertive, confident. NORTH Action Oriented “Let’s Do It!” Likes to try things and plunge right in. Assertive, confident. WEST Detail oriented Likes to know the who, what, when, where, and why before acting. Thorough, planner. EAST Speculation oriented Likes to look at the big picture, examine all possibilities before acting. Imaginative. SOUTH People Oriented, likes to know that everyone’s feelings have been taken into consideration and all voices have been heard before acting. Supportive, understanding.

Work style compass activity Move to the part of the room that matches your work style Work together to answer the following questions: a. What are the strengths of our style?   b. What are the limitations of our style? c. What style(s) do we find most difficult to work with and why? (answer in a respectful manner) d. What do other people need to know about us so that we can work together more effectively? 3. Choose a member to write the answers on chart 4. Choose 2-4 members to share your responses with the rest of the class End conversations when you hear the ring

Work Style Compass This is a diversity exercise One style isn’t better than any other All of the styles offer different strengths and challenges

Warrior-power(north) Teacher-wisdom (west) Visionary-vision (east) Work Style Compass Draws from a Native American based practice called the Medicine Wheel or the Four-Fold Way. In the Four-Fold Way, the four directions are described as Warrior-power(north) Healer-love (south) Teacher-wisdom (west) Visionary-vision (east) Source: Adapted From Bonner Curriculum Leadership Compass

Reflection What style are you? Write down 2-3 of the best things about your style. Write down 2-3 of the best things about another style that you would like to develop? (Think about the style you would have picked last) Write down 1 of the limitations of your style that you plan to work on and how you might improve. Keep this in mind during group work in this class, other classes, your work environment, and beyond.

NORTH

NORTH

SOUTH

SOUTH

EAST

EAST e

WEST

WEST

Effective teamwork Know it all Use your leadership qualities to encourage others Giving others a chance to speak up feels good Super eager Images by Chuck Dillon

Effective teamwork Unsure of self “I agree, and I also think…” “I see what you mean, what do you think of….” Use this as your chance to earn participation points Unsure of self Shy Images by Chuck Dillon

Effective teamwork Too cool Ask questions if you don’t understand Teach others if you do = win-win Won’t contribute Images by Chuck Dillon Images by Chuck Dillon

Group Activity Expectations Always introduce yourself when working with new students Every group member must contribute Allow others to complete their thoughts Ask others for input Be respectful Focus and put in your best effort -Not a time to check cell phones -Not a time for restroom breaks 7. Stop talking when buzzer goes off 8. Listen when other groups share

How can you use the compass activity in your classroom? What subject do you teach? Do you think you will use the Compass Activity with your students? If yes: when in the semester? What content might you connect it with? If no: How might you adapt this activity for use with your students?

Random Team Generator http://chir.ag/projects/team-maker

Random Team Generator http://chir.ag/projects/team-maker Team 1 Ramirez M Livingston C Guerrero S Santos A Mejia J Team 4 Vittoria M Terrell J Rodriguez J La Scala P Quintana S Team 5 Obusan S Welker D Wade L Fitts D Guzman A Team 6 Gabra A Choi H Uyama A Muralles E Gomez J Team 7 Dewitz R Pool E De Leon S Kim D Infante M Team 8 Rodriguez E Galvan V Corado R Beal I Santos K Team 9 Rodriguez D Ayala W Kim Y McHugh S Alarcon E Team 2 Lopez K Gerdes L Perez J Turner C McCrea C Team 3 Martinez B Baskerville S Dixon L Hookey S Vasquez C

Questions? Thank you very much for your time Contact: Anthony Pagán Website: www.AWPagan.com Apagan@lbcc.edu Long Beach City College, Networking – Computer Office Studies Thank you very much for your time