Agenda
Introduction/Syllabus Review
 Exercise Review
 Discussion/Comparison of Lists
 Examining the Nature of Groups
 The Experiential Learning Process
 Participant Observation
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Characteristics of Effective Groups
Group 1
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Define roles
Time management
Equal voices/input
Goal setting
Listening
Participation
Motivation
Encouragement
Confidentiality
Checks and balances
Group 2
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Communication
Make goals
Participation
Accountability
Time management
Time lines/checkpoints
Motivation
Equal roles
Open discussions
Comfortable
Guidelines for Effective Groups
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Establish clear, operational, relevant group goals
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Establish effective two-way communication
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Ensure that leadership and participation are distributed
among all group members
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Ensure power is distributed and influence tactics vary to
fit the situation
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Ensure decisions are made using the appropriate method
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Encourage structured controversies to facilitate creativity
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Ensure conflict of interests are addressed and resolved
constructively
Adapted from Johnson, D.W. & Johnson, F. P. (2000) Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills , p. 13
Characteristics of Effective Work Teams
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Informal, relaxed atmosphere
Lot of “on-task” discussion (all members participate)
Well-defined tasks or objectives
Group members listen to one another
There IS disagreement
Criticism is frequent, frank, comfortable and constructive
Ideas and feelings are freely expressed
Clear assignments are made and accepted
Group leadership shifts to members from time to time
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The group is aware of how it is operating
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From Douglas McGregor, The Human Side of Enterprise, pp. 232-235. Copyright © 1960
Definition of a Group
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Group
 Two
or more individuals
 Who interact with one another
 Are interdependent upon one another
 Aware of belonging to a group
Advantages of Working in Groups
Increased productivity (depending on the task)
Additive - the contributions of each member are combined into a
single group product.
Ex: relay race, moving a heavy object.
Conjunctive - the group’s final product is determined by its
poorest performing member.
Ex: Mountain climbers
Disjunctive - the group’s final product is determined by the best
or most competent person in the group.
Ex: Math problems
Disadvantages of Working in
Groups
Social Loafing
 Free Riding
 Groupthink
 Destructive Conflict
 Other Experiences
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Experiential Learning
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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
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'Experiential learning' can apply to any kind of
learning through experience. 'Experiential learning' is
often used by providers of training or education to
refer to a structured learning sequence which is
guided by a cyclical model of experiential learning.
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Less contrived forms of experiential learning (including
accidental or unintentional learning) are usually described in
more everyday language such as 'learning from experience'
or 'learning through experience'
Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning
The learning process often begins
with a person carrying out a
particular action and then seeing
the effect of the action in this
situation.
The last step, is the application of
the principle through action in a
new circumstance within the
range of generalization.
The second step is to understand these
effects in the particular instance so that
if the same action was taken in the same
circumstances it would be possible to
anticipate what would follow from the
action.
The third step would be
understanding the general
principle under which the
particular instance falls
How to Be an Effective Participant
Observer
1
Actively observe the process
Goal setting activities
 Communication
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 Trust
 Cohesion
Leadership
 Use of power
 Decision making
 Conflict resolution
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2
3
4
Give and receive feedback
Reflect and set goals for improvement
Modify behavior accordingly