Is it too simple to ask Jeff if there is a reason he is not participating?
Elanor
Simon Tweddell wrote:
> Sophie,
>
> I was asked a similar question by a colleague using TBL in another
> discipline a couple of weeks ago. I’d not had this problem before so I
> had to think about it for a day or two and discussed it with a
> colleague. Here’s what we came up with:
>
> 1. Write an impromptu, discipline-related task (as an application
> exercise) that challenges the teams to solve a similar problem, but in
> the workplace i.e. looking forward to a time that they are in practice.
> This task might include others tasks as well but build in an appropriate
> problem e.g. a colleague in the work team that isn’t pulling their
> weight or a client that won’t engage or talk during a case
> review/hearing or a case that demonstrates the need for all team members
> to pull their weight in the workplace. A 4S case that challenges the
> teams to come up with a solution might create some useful class
> discussion afterwards and provide the team with some ideas. Jeff might
> even come to realise that actually the workplace is all about teamwork
> and reflect a little on his behaviour to date?
>
> 2. Consider using the ‘Jeff Case’ you describe below as an application
> exercise when introducing students to TBL for the first time in the
> future. Setting the teams a similar challenge about how they would
> engage with and challenge a possible ‘Jeff’ in their team will create
> some really useful class discussion and acts as a kind of preventative,
> pre-emptive strike in case there are any possible Jeffs out there. If
> someone isn’t engaging later on in the course, then the teams might be
> able to draw on this discussion and handle this themselves, possibly
> just with the phrase ‘come on, talk to us, don’t be a Jeff!’ Deep down,
> no one really wants to think that they are being the ‘Jeff' in their group….
>
> Hope this makes sense and good luck with Jeff!
>
> Perhaps you could share with the Listserv how and if this problem is
> eventually resolved?
>
> Best wishes
>
> Simon
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Simon Tweddell BPharm MRPharmS FHEA
> Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice
> Curriculum Development Fellow
> Centre for Educational Development
> University of Bradford
> Bradford
> United Kingdom
> BD7 1DP
> Tel. +44 (0)1274 235241
> Email. [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Twitter: @simontweddell
> Skype: simon.tweddell
>
> Accredited Consultant-Trainer in Team-based Learning
>
>
> From: "Sparrow, Sophie" <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Reply-To: "Sparrow, Sophie" <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 19:56:41 +0000
> To: <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Subject: Team dynamics problem
>
> Greetings TBL colleagues -
>
> I could use some advice.
>
> For the first time in the 8 years I have been using TBL, I have a team
> that is not working well. One of the team members (I’ll call him
> Jeff-not his real name) does not talk to, make eye contact with, or
> engage with the team unless they are working on a tRAT. When they are
> engaged in team applications during class, he does not turn to face the
> rest of his teammates, does not contribute and does not listen to them.
> As with all students, he knows that team contributions count for 15% of
> the final grade.
>
> Context:
> This is a first year graduate US law course, and I am working with teams
> of 6.
>
> On this particular team, half the students have come straight from
> undergrad,and 2 of the others have worked for a while before coming to
> law school. Jeff is a bit older than the others, has a PhD in science
> and was educated in EU in predominately lecture-based settings. In his
> team he has voiced his dislike of all the assessments in this course,
> and said that he wished it were like some other law school courses,
> where the only grade is on the final exam.
>
> Students in this class have given and received anonymous midterm peer
> feedback (now 2 weeks ago). Several of the members of the team have
> several times come to talk to me about how to engage this student. In
> the feedback he received, Jeff was asked to participate more. That has
> not happened. The students had ideas about how to try to engage him
> more, and he has not been responsive. At this point, two of the students
> are very frustrated as they keep trying to get Jeff to work with them,
> but they are finding that they are spending a lot of time trying to get
> him involved when he appears to have no interest in doing so. They don’t
> want to “write him off” and not engage him during team applications, but
> they – and I – are not sure how best to handle this. A couple of team
> graded team applications are coming up over the next month, and we have
> 2 more tRATs to do.
>
> I am not sure how to respond to this situation, and would love your
> ideas and suggestions.
>
> Thanks much,
>
> ~ Sophie
>
> Sophie M. Sparrow
> Professor of Law
> University of New Hampshire School of Law
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 603-513-5205
>
--
Elanor Withnall, BVSc, MACVSc
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
St. Matthews University
P.O.Box 30902
Grand Cayman, KY1-1204
Cayman Islands
British West Indies
+1 345 745 3199
+1 345 745 3130 (fax)
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