Course Schedule: Duluth, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12 noon- 1:40, T-3150.

The following schedule provides links to the assignments for each of the class sessions. Be sure to have these studied prior to attending class.
 

Jan 15-17  Week 1	Introduction to the course , Overview of Course, & Initial Team Formation. Tuesday: In this class we will overview the course structure and requirements, become familiarized with the simulation and web resources for the course, discuss the rationale for team training and development (TT&D) being an essential consideration for organizations, and form teams for assignments. We will also discuss the "change drivers" that are requiring the use of teams and continuous learning in the workplace. Please read the above links in preparation for the class. Teams will form and get acquainted between the first and second class session. Thursday: Review how teams have formed and become acquainted and contrast with a more formal team-building format.
Jan 22-24  Week 2	Where to start: Training Needs Assessment & Learning Style.  Tuesday: We will briefly review the key ideas from your readings and the study questions. Teams will then meet to discuss and explicitly define personal and team goals and objectives, using the criteria for sound goals. Discussion will also include how a needs assessment for training should be conducted in a workplace with which you are familiar. Be sure to understand the characteristics of good goals and objectives. Also consider different ways of identifying training needs. Thursday: We will examine learning style using the Personal Style Inventory. Be sure to take a version of the Jungian style inventories (such as the Kiersey Temperament Sorter) and know the four letters that represent your style (e.g., ESTJ, ENFP, etc.). We will consider the implications of learning types regarding instructional approaches.
Jan 29-31  Week 3	How people learn: Learning Theories  & Cognitive development, & modeling expertise. Tuesday: We will identify learning experiences you have had and discuss them in the light of learning theories--how and why do your study methods work or not work. Be able to use the concepts of various learning theories to describe and explain learning. Thursday: Cognitive development stages and differences between traditional-age and adult learners will be examined. Kolb's reflective learning model will be presented and applied to team processing. We will also demonstrate how to elicit someones expertise for training purposes.
Feb 5-7  Week 4	Team learning & improvement: Team Processing  & Facilitation.  Tuesday: Primary focus for this session will be on the reflective process in teams, with emphasis on what to look for, how to discuss it, and what to do with the information for team performance improvement. Thursday: Teams will conduct an in-class team meeting and demonstrate processing and reflection skills
Feb 12-14  Week 5	Dealing with differences: Conflict & problem behaviors. Tuesday: Using Tuckman's stages we will examine conflict, its sources, stages, and effects on team performance. Teams will then develop and present strategies for dealing with problem behaviors in a group. Thursday:
Feb 19-21  Week 6	Building team spirit: Cohesion, norms, and groupthink.  Tuesday: Teams will review strategies for increasing cohesion and identify symptoms that cohesion has gone too far. We will also view a video on the Challenger Disaster, analyze it for symptoms of group think, and review the Groupthink Inventory.  Thursday: Finally, teams will consider how they might intervene in workteams that were at risk of groupthink.
Feb 26-28  Week 7	Checking outcomes: Learning & Performance Evaluation.  Tuesday: Principles of performance evaluation will be highlighted with emphasis on some of the problems in evaluating team performance.  Thursday: Teams will use the Team Evaluation Form for evaluating each other's midterm performance and discussing the use of feedback.
Mar 5-7  Week 8	Training Design & Team-building.  Tuesday: We will identify the characteristics of good and poor training experiences and design, outline what a sound training design should include, evaluate structured activities as a technique.  Thursday: Start team work on a designing a team-building workshop for later class presentation.
Mar 12-14  Week 9	Spring Break (no classes)
Mar 19-21  Week 10	Exam! & Team Time Tuesday: Exam over key terms, concepts, and practices will take the full tuesday class.  Thursday: time will be used for team preparation for training presentations and consultation with instructor.
Mar 26-28  Week 11	Transition Management. or E-Learning and Virtual Teamwork. Easter Vacation on the 28th!
Apr 2-4  Week 12	Leadership Development Tuesday: Leadership Thursday: Team time for projects
Apr 9-11  Week 13	Team Presentation & Team time-- Team 'Dave Thomas" presents! A team will present its team-building training design and structured activity to the class for discussion and critique. Remaining time will be used for additional team meetings. Thursday: team time for projects
Apr 16-18  Week 14	Team Presentation & Team time-- Team '3PH' presents! Thursday: team time for projects
Apr 23-25  Week 15	Team Presentation & Team time-- Team 'R&E' presents! Thursday: team time for projects
Apr 30-May 2  Week 16	Tuesday: Team termination: summary of learning, termination activities Thursday: Handbook due, team member performance evaluation & course evaluation
May 7-9	Finals Week