team-awareness

Outcome:
One of the common problems in working on strategies at course level is giving everyone a voice, and ensuring that all needs, or as many as possible, are met. These activities are designed as 'rapid gathering' tools to see what matters most to your team members. Where are the areas of synergy? Where are there areas of possible dissension?

Suggested activities
Look through the following activities and think about whether any of them might work in your own context. If you have other ideas, please add them below.


 * Title:** What do you want to gain? What don't you want to lose?
 * Time required:** 20 minutes
 * Preparation:** Questions written on sheet or PPT. Paper and pens for team members. Blutac to stick up paper on wall.
 * Activity:** This activity would be perfect for a pre-symposium activity to get to know where each team member is at. Perhaps conducted at a regular course team meeting.

1. Team members are given the following questions. What do you most want to gain (regain) from reviewing your BFL practice? What are 1 or 2 important things that you hope to gain from this experience. Reminder: focus on your BFL practice. (If it is easier, ask yourself ‘What do I most want to regain?’)

• for your students? • for your colleagues? • for CSU? • for yourself? What do you most cherish and not want to lose as you review your BFL practice? • for your students? • for your colleagues? • for CSU? • for yourself? What are some deal-breakers that would stop your progress toward what your BFL goals?

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve them?

Team members are given blank sheets of paper and are given around 5 minutes each to provide their answers. These are then placed on a 'thought wall' for consideration of the group. They can be discussed then, and used to provide focus for the areas you might want to consider as part of your symposium, or analysed later by the planning group and brought into symposium discussions.

A reasonably clear snapshot of the priorities of the group, and what is important to each member.
 * What you'll have at the end:**




 * Title:** What are your teacher strengths?


 * Time required:** 15 minutes


 * Preparation:** Questions written on sheet or PPT. Paper and pens for team members. Blutac to stick up paper on wall.


 * Activity:** This activity would be perfect for a pre-symposium activity to get to know where each team member is at. Perhaps conducted at a regular course team meeting.

From Steve Gilbert (TLT):

Keep trying Organize subject matter effectively Connect with students Solicit and use feedback from students Use media Use principles of good 'instructional design' Create a 'safe' environment Be charismatic or entertaining Be an attractive role model Work with different-sized groups Develop self-study materials Select cost-effective teaching combinations