c1L01 - Experiencing and Evaluating Team Dynamics

Last modified by Daniel Nübling on 2022/08/03 08:12

Experiencing and Evaluating Team Dynamics

Learners experience in a practical exercise how difficult it can be to work as a group on an easy task and which dynamics arise from this situation regarding communication, hierarchy and problem solving approaches. The target of the lesson is to become aware of potential problems in teamwork and how to avoid them. 

Preparation

For every 10 participants you will need one folding yardstick or another long stick.

Folding Yardstick

For the excercise you will need to extend the yardstick to  its maximum size. 

Folding Yardstick extended

Method / Process description

The lesson combines the Helium Stick exercise with rounds of group reflections. 

The Helium Stick Exercise

Helium Stick Setup

  • Divide the class into groups of 8-10 people.
  • Each group needs a referee.
  • Each group is lined up in two rows facing each other.
  • All participants point their index fingers with their arms hold out a bit.
  • Lay the stick on the index fingers. The group might need to adjust the height of their arms until the stick is horizontal and all fingers are touching the stick. 
  • Explain the mission to the participants: their task is to lower the stick to the ground without anybody loosing touch with the stick. If anybody's finger gets off the stick, the exercise will be restarted at the top.
  • With children you can run the exercise without a time limit. With adults it increases the effect if you give them a time limit of e.g. 1 minute to make it harder to accomplish the task. The referee needs to keep track of the time then. If there is more than one group you can also bring them into a competition who finishes the task first.

How to hold Helium Stick

 

Background

Especially when the group performs the exercise for the first, the stick seems to magically move up instead of down. Groups react very differently to this effect. Some take it with humor, others give orders or even accuse others of doing something wrong. Children tend to be more vocal and accuse each other. Adults are often calmer and more likely to take it with humor. Whatever the reactions of the groups, do not try to influence their reactions in the first round. The more extreme the reactions, the easier it is to reflect on the team dynamics in the group.

Structuring the Lesson

  • Input: Give a short introduction to the relevance of teamwork in today's professional life (e.g. production teams in factory, coding teams in IT companies, care teams in hospitals).
  • Exercise: Perform the Helium Stick exercise. Don't give too many explanations or instructions ahead otherwise the exercise may not be as effective.
  • Group discussion: Discuss the results of the exercise in the plenum. Let each group report:
    • How they solved the task.
    • If they were satisfied with the way they solved the task.
    • Which problems they had.
    • How everybody felt in this setting.
    • What could be improved.
  • Exercise: Perform the exercise a second time. Give the teams some time to discuss whether they want to try a new strategy then start the exercise.
  • Group discussion: After the second round discuss in the plenum what has changed compared to the first round. Ask the participants for their personal experiences with teamwork:
    • In which settings did the work in a team?
    • Have there been situation similar to the Helium Stick experience where the group tried to achieve a goal but ended up with something completely different?
    • What were the problems people experienced (e.g. bad communication, battling for the lead, losing focus, individuals not working in the team)?
    • What positive aspects did they experience in teamwork (e.g. sharing success, learning from others, feel safe in a group)?  
  • Input: Give participants some background about how teamwork competencies can be trained with children in everyday life (Module 6 > 6.1.  Introducing Children to Digital Skills > Working in Teams > Team "Family")
  • Reflection: Use the worksheet ""Training Team Competences - The Team Family Diary" for reflection of the topic. Either as a homework or as group or plenum work let participants reflect situations in their everyday family life where team work already works well or where they can improve it. 

Downloads

References

 

Short facts

Target groupAdult or children class
SettingIndividual, group work and plenum
Time1-2 units à 45 min.
Material
  • Folding yardstick or long stick
  • Stop watch

Content

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