1. 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

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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. NORTH

16. NORTH

17. SOUTH

18. SOUTH

19. EAST

20. EAST e

21. WEST

22. WEST

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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?

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

29. 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

30. Questions? Thank you very much for your time Contact: Anthony Pagán
Website:
Long Beach City College, Networking – Computer Office Studies
Thank you very much for your time