Week 6 - Discussion 1 Learning Reflection In this discussion, you have an opportunity to consider your learning from this course and engage in final conversation about the course with the instructor and other class peers. In the 1960’s, Bruce Tuckman related a model for group dynamics that suggested groups transition similarly along a continuum of activity for optimal functioning. These transitions were labeled Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning . When we first entered our class together six weeks ago, we began Storming and Norming as a class. Throughout the course we have been Performing, and now we are in our moment of Adjourning. Though some of you may have opportunities for classes with peers in the future, this week marks the end of our unique opportunity as a group. Therefore, it is an effective time to reflect and debrief from our learning as we prepare for the next steps in our educational journeys. Initial Post – Post a response that addresses each of the following areas: Construct a list of the top three concepts, skills, resources, and so forth that you have gained in this course and that are most relevant to your life. These could be knowledge, skills, or attitudes related to the course topic, related to your abilities as a graduate student, or other relevant learning for you professionally that has come from this course experience. Include a brief description of each item in your list. List three concepts, skills, resources, and so forth that you are still curious about now that the course is nearly completed. Describe how you plan to acquire learning with items on your list. Reflect in no more than one paragraph about the most memorable challenge you experienced during his course and most memorable success. The challenges and successes may be related to your coursework, study experiences, or interactions with peers and the instructor. They might also be something more personal, such as an application of new concepts/knowledge or skills in your work environment or life generally. State which class you are taking next and explain in no more than a paragraph how you envision this course relates to that next course in the scheme of your total program learning experience. ( my next class is EDU 695 MAED Capstone ) Week 6 Discussion Guidance Discussion 1 This discussion, “Learning Reflection”, focuses on the “forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning” model design for teamwork by Bruce Tuckeman in his article Developmental Sequence in Small Groups . (as cited in Team Formation, 2014). In the “Forming” stage, each person in the team is establishing a role determined by strengths, personality traits, and group dynamics. In the next stage, members begin “storming” against what was established in the forming stage, creating conflict situations as the ‘honeymoon’ behavior wears off and working style differences infer with collaborative efforts. If teams are able to work through their “storming” .

1. Week 6 - Discussion 1
Learning Reflection
In this discussion, you have an opportunity to consider your
learning from this course and engage in final conversation about
the course with the instructor and other class peers. In the
1960’s, Bruce Tuckman related a model for group dynamics that
suggested groups transition similarly along a continuum of
activity for optimal functioning. These transitions were labeled
Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning
. When we first entered our class together six weeks ago, we
began Storming and Norming as a class. Throughout the course
we have been Performing, and now we are in our moment of
Adjourning. Though some of you may have opportunities for
classes with peers in the future, this week marks the end of our
unique opportunity as a group. Therefore, it is an effective time
to reflect and debrief from our learning as we prepare for the
next steps in our educational journeys.
Initial Post –
Post a response that addresses each of the following areas:
Construct a list of the top three concepts, skills, resources, and
so forth that you have gained in this course and that are most
relevant to your life. These could be knowledge, skills, or
attitudes related to the course topic, related to your abilities as
a graduate student, or other relevant learning for you
professionally that has come from this course experience.
Include a brief description of each item in your list.
List three concepts, skills, resources, and so forth that you are
still curious about now that the course is nearly completed.
Describe how you plan to acquire learning with items on your

2. list.
Reflect in no more than one paragraph about the most
memorable challenge you experienced during his course and
most memorable success. The challenges and successes may be
related to your coursework, study experiences, or interactions
with peers and the instructor. They might also be something
more personal, such as an application of new
concepts/knowledge or skills in your work environment or life
generally.
State which class you are taking next and explain in no more
than a paragraph how you envision this course relates to that
next course in the scheme of your total program learning
experience. ( my next class is
EDU 695 MAED Capstone
)
Week 6 Discussion Guidance
Discussion 1
This discussion, “Learning Reflection”, focuses on the
“forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning”
model design for teamwork by Bruce Tuckeman in his article
Developmental Sequence in Small Groups
. (as cited in Team Formation, 2014). In the “Forming” stage,
each person in the team is establishing a role determined by
strengths, personality traits, and group dynamics. In the next
stage, members begin “storming” against what was established
in the forming stage, creating conflict situations as the
‘honeymoon’ behavior wears off and working style differences
infer with collaborative efforts. If teams are able to work
through their “storming” differences, “norming” is established
where team members get to know each other on a personal and
professional level, and are able work together leveraging each

3. other’s strengths and professional deficiencies. Your team is
using proactive communication strategies, “performing” as a
strong collaborative team. Most teams are not permanent; they
will be “adjourning” once their goal has been accomplished.
(Forming, storming, norming, and performing, 2014)
For your initial post you will reflect on how you see yourself as
a leader in each of these stages; where you feel you need more
professional development and how you will accomplish that;
and any personal challenges or accomplishments you’ve
experienced during this course in relation to collaboration,
proactive communication, or yourself as a leader in conflict
resolution.
MindTools. (2014).
Forming, storming, norming, and performing: Understanding the
stages of team formation
. Retrieved from
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
Week 6 - Discussion 2
Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and
you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates.
Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and
the depth of your responses.
Improving Your School, One Goal at a Time
This discussion is your opportunity to demonstrate your

4. understanding of the objectives;
Analyze ways to create a collaborative school culture to
promote professional growth and leadership; and Recognize the
importance of knowing personal strengths and weaknesses in
conflict resolution
. Additionally, the discussion represents your master of the
Course Learning Outcomes 1, 2, & 3.
Throughout the course you have learned the importance of
collaboration between teachers in an inclusive teaching
environment, how each person plays an important role as part of
a team effort, and how an array of opinions can be united into
one common goal using proactive problem-solving strategies.
The same foundational theories can be applied to a larger
system when creating a proactive school culture that is fully
inclusive, and requires each stakeholder to play an important
role in the team and to use proactive problem-solving to avoid
potential conflicting situations.
According to Nadine Engels article
Principals in Schools With a Positive School Culture
(as cited in School Culture Matters, (2013), contributing
factors to positive culture include “a shared sense of purpose
and values, norms of continuous learning and improvement,
collaborative collegial relationships... and sharing experiences”
(para. 4). Furthermore, according to chapter eight in Murawski
and Spencer (2011), creating a collaborative school culture is
akin to writing an IEP, where team members evaluate the
school’s present level of performance; create a long-term goal
to be reevaluated annually and short term, scaffolded objectives
for meeting the long-term goal (p. 139). As Murawski and
Spencer (2011) explain, we begin by thinking about where the
school is in its current condition as a social culture, the
parent/teacher collaboration dynamic, the emotional
environment, and overall instructional practices. Then, using
proactive problem-solving steps, stakeholders will share

5. perceptions and emotions of their “Collaborative Culture”
vision. Using that shared information, the overall issue will be
identified (i.e., the long-term goal), and the team will
brainstorm ideas for how to accomplish it. Finally, the team will
determine how the school’s culture will be improved over a
period of time (short term objectives) and each person’s role in
the team’s success.
Murawski, W. & Spencer, S. (2011).
Collaborate, communicate, and differentiate: How to increase
student learning in today’s diverse schools
. Corwin Press
Haberman, M. (2013, April 10).
Why school culture matters, and how to improve it
. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Michael-
Haberman/why-school-culture-matter_b_3047318.html
Initial Post -
Start by reflecting on all you have learned throughout this
course. Then, develop one long term goal in creating a
collaborative school culture and four short term objectives that
will scaffold to enable your school to achieve that goal.
Additionally, explain how the special education team and site
administrators will each play a part in your overall goal.
Guided Response -
Post replies to at least
two
peers before the close date of this discussion. In your replies,
consider asking questions of peers about their responses to
encourage further conversation. In your replies, describe the
role that might be played by two additional stakeholders in

6. reaching your peers’ long-term goal and short term objectives.
Stakeholders can include parents, general educators, service
providers, community partners, and the student body.
As with all prior discussions, though two replies is the basic
expectation, for deeper engagement and learning, you are
encouraged to provide responses to any comments or questions
others have given to you (including the instructor) before the
last day of the discussion; this will further the conversation
while also giving you opportunities to demonstrate your content
expertise, critical thinking, and real world experiences with this
topic.