Great group work is like a red velvet cupcake.
Teamwork Definition: A Cupcake?
What does a cupcake have to do with teamwork? Well, a red velvet cupcake combines several surprisingly different elements (cream cheese frosting, fluffy cake, and red food coloring) to make one luscious dessert.
Similarly, great group collaboration unites the diverse skills and characteristics of each group member to produce a fabulous project… together! (Ok, that analogy may just have been an excuse to post my cupcake photo, but the point is still valid.)
Examples of Working Together Well… and Badly
Anyhoo, since the 7th grade students I teach are currently embarking on a big group project, now seems a perfect time to unveil the 2-minute masterpiece video that I made a while back with my mischievous toddler as part of a summer film course.
The video is entitled “How to Avoid Group Work Disaster,” and features three potential collaboration pitfalls — Stubbornness, Prejudice, and Laziness — and their easy fixes. Enjoy, and do share widely with anyone who could benefit!
What are YOUR Teamwork Tips?
So what do you think? What teamwork lessons and pitfalls would YOU share? Should baby Devi start crafting his Oscar acceptance speech? Do you want an autographed replica of that mustache pacifier? I eagerly await your comments.
The author, Lillie Marshall, is 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 3.7 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!