TEAM GUIDELINES

One of your responsibilities in this course will be to work with other class members to solve problems. The goal of team work is to increase each member's understanding of the material and assigned problems. The purpose is not just to get a right answer, dazzle fellow students with your brilliance, or to get a free ride. The requirement to work collectively and explain your reasoning may be new to you in a mathematics class, so here are a few guidelines.

1. Above all be present, on time and prepared. Come each day with your homework up-to-date.

2. Encourage everyone to participate in the team's deliberations; let no one dominate. Express support and acceptance of other team members both verbally and nonverbally. Make eye contact, show interest, praise participation, and seek out other's ideas.

3. Listen attentively to what others have to say. Don't interrupt.

4. If you disagree with someone's idea/solution, do so by asking helpful questions. Do not merely state your own opinion/solution. You both might be right. Any criticism should be aimed at ideas, not individuals.

5. Answers alone are not enough. Be prepared and willing to explain your reasoning.

6. Do not be persuaded by group pressure. In mathematics, majority rule is frequently dangerous. Answers must stand the test of LOGIC.

7. Various roles are useful in effective group-learning.

• TEACHER: When you are convinced of your solution, try to explain it carefully. You've really succeeded, if everyone ends up being able to give the explanation.

• QUESTIONER: If the logic of an argument is not clear, ask for clarification. If you think there's a mistake or misinterpretation or the team's investigation is headed in the wrong direction, ask appropriate questions to help focus on the error and get the team headed in a more productive direction.

• SUPPORTER: Facilitate participation by everyone. Encourage those who may be temporarily discouraged or just hesitant to speak out.

• LISTENER: Give others a chance to express their ideas. Pay attention to what they say, and place value on it.

Although you will find yourself in all of these roles sooner or later, one or two of them will probably come more naturally to you, and you will spend most of your time in them. Consciously try practicing all four roles.