Teams...What are the benefits?

Team projects can potentially yield some unique and valuable benefits. However, challenges are likely to arise due to varied perspectives from others.

When working in teams, I have found that I am more successful in solving problems as opposed to working on my own. In a previous IDT course, the class was split into teams of our choosing. Our assignment was to determine if our chosen organization had a unique instructional design theory that was effective when employed in certain situations. If it wasn't, we were to provide recommendations on how to better incorporate better instructional design theory within that organization. We worked together very well, because we work for the same organization. Scheduling meetings was easy, because our offices are all in the same vicinity, in which we would meet in one of our offices once a week. Being in a group of three also made it easier to distribute a fair amount of work to each member.When teams are allowed to choose their own members, it gives them more sense of ownership, and may motivate them to be a better team member.

Team members will most likely have different goals, abilities, and commitment levels that could hinder the progress of an effective team. In one of my previous courses, I was assigned to a random group, in which the work was 100% online collaboration. Online classes can run smoothly if you and the group you're assigned to at least have the same commitment level, but in my case, this team was a complete mess. Aside from technical difficulties, the team lacked severely in its cohesiveness. There would be times I would go days without speaking to my team members, and an assignment would be due the next day and they are holding on to a piece of information that we need to complete the assignment. We scheduled meetings well, but hardly no one logged in to discuss whatever issue was at hand. Sometimes I would be the only person waiting online (hoping that someone would chime in). I eventually left this group and worked alone for the remainder of the course. In cases such as these, working alone may be the best option if you want to be in complete control of the outcome, but it also increases your work load.

For a majority of my graduate career, I have spent a large chunk of my time working in teams. In working with teams, I have learned that these practices are vital to the success of any team:

• Confidence
• Active Participation
• Open Communication
• Responsibility
• Trustworthiness
• Flexibility
• Supportive
• Always go for the Win-Win (Consensus)
• Have a sense of humor

If these traits are present, any team should be able to work together effectively.

Working on teams will only benefit me and propel me forward as an instructional designer because it is a field in which I am constantly learning and growing. I understand that if I want to have a wide range of skills I will need to collaborate with SME's, and many others so I will know exactly what and how people need to learn.

To re-iterate, working asynchronously can be challenging, but it shows that teams are more effective working together on a project rather than an individual working alone, because if the right kind of team is molded together, they will use each other as a source for motivation and come up with very creative and exciting ideas. With that being said, my intentions are to step out of my comfort zone and be an effective team member-actively participating in every possible way to maximize not only mine, but the group's learning experience as well.