Robin's Early Childhood Studies Blog: TEAM BUILDING AND COLLABORATION

Saturday, June 9, 2012

TEAM BUILDING AND COLLABORATION - PART I

For this week’s blog assignment we are asked to consider the adjourning phase of team development in connection to groups which we have been involved in. The first group that came to mind was when I was taking a required speech course while working on my undergrad degree. For whatever reason, we just all bonded as a group right from the beginning. I have to say this was probably the most fun as well as productive class I have ever attended. It was also very hard when we were at the adjourning stage. Following the Five Stages of Development (Abudi, 2010); this is how I perceive my experience with this particular class.

Stage 1 – Forming: During this stage we each introduced ourselves and the journey to discovering about each other began. We also discussed with the professor what was expected of us over the next fourteen weeks. Our professor was very clear on his expectations but was also very respectful of each of the students.

Stage 2 – Storming: During this stage we began to break up into smaller groups who would be working more closely together on specific assignments.

Stage 3 – Norming: At this stage we have now begun to really get to know each other and are more open (I believe) to hearing from all sides before decisions are made. The projects we have been assigned are progressing more smoothly because of following this process (even though at the time we did not realize it).

Stage 4 – Performing: At this point all of our hard work is being realized and we are closing in on the completion of our project.

Stage 5 – Adjourning: At this point there is happiness (because we have completed our assigned projects and have successfully worked together to have accomplished this). There is also sadness (since we know that we probably will not be seeing each other again). Our professor has a great idea in order to make this stage a little easier. We all chose to meet for dinner in a nearby restaurant after the last class in order for all of us to have the chance to say good-bye and to exchange phone numbers and email addresses (this was before Facebook).

References

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from

http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

1 comment:

TeresaJune 10, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Robin,
I find that an instructor creates the environment , and your instructor provided an environment of trust and equality, which brought you all to colleagues and some friendships. I find that this is the unfortunate thing for us as an e-learning program, we are spread across the United States and maybe one day we will be able to meet face to face, but to have the ability to have coffee and reflect will be a little more difficult. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful outlook of your past experience.
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PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB

When constructing my personal childhood web I needed to remember those who contributed to a feeling of being loved, left me feeling special in some way, and cared about. This was a difficult task as my memories of my childhood, especially from the years of ten and up, were more of surviving this time instead of enjoyment.

Those individuals who did leave a positive impression in some way during the course of my early childhood and middle childhood are: my maternal step-grandfather; my mother; my father; my sister; and my mother's long-term boyfriend and father figure in later years.

My maternal step-grandfather, Monty Crytzer, was the one person in my childhood that I could always count on the keep me laughing and see the fun part of childhood. Even though we are not biologically related, I attribute my sense of humor and how I look at life to him. When times get tough, I always remember how he taught me the importance of being a kid at heart. One specific memory is of him pushing my sister and me around K-Mart in a shopping cart telling us to yell for our mom and grandmother. We had fun, they were totally embarrassed. I have many wonderful memories of my time spent with him.

My mother, Sarah, had her ups and downs as a parent. Most of my memories are not of fun times but to give her credit she did the best she could under the circumstances she found herself in during my later early childhood and middle childhood years. She took care of the basics in order for us to be healthy. She made sure we ate, had clothes, got up for school, etc... It was in the department of showing love that she had a tough time in. I always assumed she loved us but just did not know how to show it.

My father, Eddie, was a great father when we were little whenever he was around (which was not often because of work). He was very interested in technology and I credit him with my interest in all types of gizmos, gadgets, and computers of any type. The times I remember the most fondly were spent in his workroom as a young child being instructed on how to use his Ham Radio setup. Unfortunately, he slowly disappeared out of my life when I was around ten or so.

My sister, Wendy, is older than I am but we always shared a room. We were close later in early childhood and in early middle childhood due to the environment we lived in. Specific memories are painful to remember, but it was and is important that she was there when times were tough. We went through a rough time in later childhood but are now as close as ever.

My mom's long-term boyfriend, Ralph, was and still is a father figure for me. Since the age of fifteen, he has been the person who pretty much took on that role in my life. We never lived in the same house but do live only two houses apart. Aside from taking on some of the roles as father figure, he is a great listener as well as full of information that he loves to share.

There were others who had an impact as I progressed into adulthood but these are the five that came to mind for my early childhood and middle childhood. I do believe we are a product of our environment in so many ways and even though three of the five mentioned are no longer alive, the impact they had on my life is still present today.

Robin's Early Childhood Studies Blog

Saturday, June 9, 2012

TEAM BUILDING AND COLLABORATION - PART I

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