THE POWER OF LEARNING TEAMS

Alexis ApplegateAndrea FaustRobin Lauric

Learning Teams

• Collaborative learning• Deepen understanding

of concepts• Vehicles for reflection• Superior outcomes

A learning team is a group of individuals who work together to produce the best possible

Learning Styles

Issues

• Differing interpretations

• Wasted time

• Lower productivity

Solutions

• Learning Style Assessments

• Enhance knowledge of personal learning style

• Value learning styles of others

Commitment

Issues

• Lowers productivity

• Creates frustration

• Disallows for adequate time

Solutions

• Establish norms

• Establish agreements

• Learning team charter

Communication

Issues

• Lack of productivity

• Keeping assignments available to all group members

Solutions

• Learning team charter

• Develop listening skills

• Build relationships

• Create shared meaning

Scheduling

Issues

• Personal commitments

• Time

• Location

Solutions

• Learning Team Charter

• Technology

• Communication

ManagementIssues

• Produce unclear objectives

• Lead to an unequal distribution of work

• Create feelings of inequality

• Waste time

• Encourage negativity

• Cultivate fighting

• Reduce productivity and effectiveness

Solutions

• Establish a Learning Team Charter

• Ask for clarification• Develop a project outline

(Gantt chart, PERT, CPM, learning team log)

• Complete a Learning Team Log

• Create meeting agendas• Assign a facilitator• Participate in role

sharing

Skills and AbilitiesIssues

• Cultivate feelings of inequality

• Create anxiety and stress around team outcomes

• Create trust limitations

• Lead to an unequal distribution of work

• Prevent shared learning

• Limit team performance

Solutions• Discuss individual

learning style assessments

• Complete a KSA (knowledge, skills & abilities) team inventory

• Create a Learning Team Charter

• Allocate responsibilities according to strengths

• Facilitate group learning

• Celebrate assets

Outcomes of Successful Learning Teams

• Empower sense of self purpose

• Deepen understandings

• Promote interdependence

• Build stronger communities

• Produce quality solutions and systems

• Generate endless possibilities

The Power of Learning Teams

Alexis Applegate

Andrea Faust

Robin Lauric

Bibliography

• University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team Handbook . Available on the University of Phoenix student/faculty website: http://www.apollolibrary.com/Library/ltt/download/LearningTeamHandbook.pdf (March 27, 2010)

• D Andrea-O Brien, Charlene, & Buono, Anthony F. (1996). Building effective learning teams: Lessons from the field. S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal, 61(3), 4.  Retrieved March 28, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 10380496).

University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team Toolkit. Available on the University of Phoenix student/faculty website: http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (March 27, 2010)