Spring 2010: How Teams Work & How to Work Better in Teams

 
Class group page is located at: www.cirtl.net/spring10/htw

Registration preference will be given to students from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) departments. 

This course will cover topics in leadership, management, decision making, and social science that will help participants understand the dynamics of teams and how process can help ensure better decision making. It is designed especially to help participants who work in multidisciplinary and or multicultural teams.

Spring 2010 Course Flyer (PDF)



Course Goals / Learning Outcomes

After taking this course you will:

  • Understand the value of diversity to a team.
  • Understand what factors can influence team member selection.
  • Know about basic leadership styles and how leadership style influences outcomes.
  • Be more effective at networking and will have grown your network.
  • Understand the impact of gender schemas, unconscious bias, and stereotype threat.
  • Know how some common cognitive errors can be avoided and understand how process can impact decision making.
  • Know what is meant by terms like “best alternative to a negotiated agreement” and “win-win.” Understand the basics of negotiation.
  • Know the best practices for running (and participating in) a meeting and understand the role you can play in ensuring a civil climate.
 

Assessment

Grading will be based partly on class attendance and participation. Participants will also be graded on two assignments – one will be a written summary of a paper related to the topics covered in the course, the other will be a case study based on a situation the participant is dealing with and how they are using what they have learned. This case study will be presented and discussed in class.

 

Overview

Course type: Online web-conference, synchronous graduate seminar

Host institutions: University of Colorado at Boulder

Instructors: Patricia Rankin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Development and Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Dates: Tuesdays - January 19, 2010 - May 4, 2010

Meeting times: 7:15p ET / 6:15p CT / 5:15p MT (60 minutes)

 

Technology Requirements

This course will use interactive web and teleconferencing technology. Students will need:

  • Individual access to a computer in a quiet location with a high-speed internet connection
  • Microphone and headphones
    • Headphones are required to avoid audio feedback
    • If your webcam has a built-in mic, regular earbuds (iPod, iPhone, etc.) or headphones can be used
    • If your webcam does not have a built-in mic, a headset will be required
  • A webcam (if you don’t have one, they can be obtained for about $25)
  • Skype - Skype is used as a back-up connection system. If students have problems connecting to the Elluminate room they can then contact the instructor or other facilitators to troubleshoot. Instructors may also require that students meet outside of class in Elluminate to complete assignments (varies from course to course)
  • This course will use Elluminate Live! to connect students via web-conference. Elluminate requires that your computer have a compatible Java software version installed on your computer.
    Please follow this link for a first-time user's system setup and to test your system's compatibility.

 

Accessibility

We strive to be inclusive of anyone interested in participating in our activities, programs, and courses. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know in advance so that we may make the necessary accommodations.

 

Course Credit

Students may participate with or without credit, as they prefer. All students must complete the course assignments. The course work for this class is equivalent to a 1 credit course. Graduate students at campuses other than the host institution who are interested in receiving course credit are encouraged towork with their local CIRTL Network campus leaders or advisors to receive independent study credit.  We strive to be inclusive of anyone interested in participating in our activities, programs, and courses. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know in advance so that we may make the necessary accommodations.