You get them to work together and then what? A case for development of teamwork skills Presenter - Esther Ventura-Medina Learning Lunch Box 29 August 2014

1. YOU GET THEM TO WORK
TOGETHER AND THEN WHAT?
-A CASE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF TEAMWORK SKILLS
Esther Ventura-Medina
Chemical Engineering
Monash University
August 29, 2014 - The SLATE

2. WHAT DO WE WANT?
LEADERSHIP
TIME MANAGEMENT
COMMUNICATION
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
TEAM PLAYER
TEAMWORK

3. WHAT HAPPENS IS…

4. WHAT CAN WE DO?
 Provide Opportunities
 Small/Large projects
 Throughout semester team assignments/practicals
 Support skills development
 Young adults have little/none experience
 Providing guidance
 Feedback on progress
 Assess processes –not only products!
 Has there been an improvement? vs Is the report well
written?
 Have they planned ahead and prioritize? vs Did they
submit in time?

5. FORMING TEAMS
 Models such as Belbin theory can help
 Based around individual strengths
 8-9 roles divided into categories:
Ideas
Actions
Teamwork
 Students fill in a questionnaire at the beginning of
the semester Profiles Individual
 Teams are formed based on individuals’ profile
 You might have other parameters to play with (e.g.
marks, gender split, background)

6. SUPPORTING TEAMS
 Team roles are assigned based on Belbin scores –it
is up to the team if they change.
 Teams are provided with a mentor (not required but
it helps!)
 Presentations/Anecdotal accounts are given to
provide ideas/strategies for:
 Team formation and processes (Tuckman theory)
 Time management (Project plan)
 Conflict resolution (Strategies on how to deal with
disagreements)
 Communication (Effective meetings)
 Good teamwork practices (e.g. Setting ground rules)

7. DEVELOPING SKILLS
 Time management
 Project plan is required and feedback provided.
 Project progress and prioritization is checked weekly
 Communication and Leadership
 How to conduct meetings
 Setting meeting agendas
 Chairing meetings
 Meeting minutes
Roles (Chair, Minute
taker, Time keeper) are
alternated between
individuals
Feedback is provided
weekly on Meeting
minutes

8. DEVELOPING SKILLS
 Team formation & processes
 Anonymous performance survey (Survey Monkey) –
students can comment on their team progress
 Results from the survey are given back to teams to discuss
how to improve if necessary
 Follow up survey results with team mentors/tutors
 Independent Teamwork Support Officer –it could be a tutor
or past student

9. ASSESSING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
 Project planning helps with time management
Meeting paper trail allows staff to monitor
progress
Team performance surveys allow management
of team dynamics
 Performance surveys also allow self-reflection
on student’s individual performance

10. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 David De La Cruz –Teamwork Support Officer
 BTBL Small Grant Scheme for their financial
support
Contact details:
esther.ventura-medina@monash.edu
+61 3 9905 3425

11. ASSESSMENT WORKING GROUP (OVPLT)
Employability Skills Sub-Group is
gathering examples of practice
If you are carrying out activities at either
UG and PG level that provide opportunities
and assess employability skills please get
in touch and contribute.