Team Roles

 

We have some tried-and true team roles that we use whenever we are working in teams.   

 

Idea Champion

~ Your job is to support the group members so that they

feel comfortable sharing their ideas.

~ Make sure each person gives at least one idea & no one gives too many ideas. Listen for people to say "I have an idea..."

~ Look for ways to help the group combine and modify ideas to include many good ideas, rather than just one!

~ If your group does not understand someone's idea, it's your job to ask questions and help the idea-owner to add details until the group does understand the idea.

~ Reminder - first we collect ideas, then we judge them. Don't let judgments interfere with idea generation.

 

Things you might say:

"Can you be a little more detailed/specific about your idea?"

"That's a great idea!"

"We could use part of this idea and part of another idea to make a new idea."

 

Minute Minder

~ Your job is to keep the group on schedule!

~ Gently let the group know how much time they have left on each step/task.

~ When time is almost over, let your group know!

 

Things you might say:

"Our time is almost up. We should start wrapping up."

"It's time to move on to our next task/step."

"We should use our time more wisely and stay on topic."

 

 

Plan Protector

~ Your job is to first make sure the group creates a plan (sometimes we'll do that as a class, but sometimes your group will need to do that for itself), and then to make

sure that the group is sticking to its plan.

~ You should partner with the Minute Minder to arrange times for each of the steps or tasks your group needs to complete.

 

Things you might say:

"Let's stop for a minute to clarify our plan before we keep going."

"We need to go over who is doing each task/part before we start."

"We need to S.T.O.P. before we start!"

"We're off topic, guys. We need to stick to the plan."

 

 

Decision Helper

~ Your job is to help the group make decisions efficiently so that time isn't wasted arguing.

~ Try to work to reach consensus, instead of just voting on the most popular idea.

[Consensus-building brings ideas and people together in a way that builds support for a final decision.]

~ You can serve as a tie-breaker when the group is stuck or when a quick, less-important decision is needed.

 

Things you might say:

"We need to make a decision between X and Y."

"Is there a way that we could choose something that everyone would agree on?"

 

 

The Communicator

~ Your job is to be the "voice" of your group. If your group has a question, it's your job to ask it. If Miss Kelly or a visitor asks what your group is doing, it's your job to give a brief, one sentence answer about the learning that is happening in your group during the activity.

~ It is not your job to be the only presenter, but you should organize your group's presentation and make sure everyone is ready to share their piece.

 

Things you might say:

~ "I'd be happy to share what we're learning..."

~ "Ok, to make sure that we're ready, please let me know what each of us is going to share during our presentation. Who will go first?"

~ "If Miss Kelly asked me to explain what we're learning right now, I don't think I could. I could use the group's help to come up with a one-sentence answer."