Teaching group dynamics : A guide for faculty

Abstract

In the world we live in today, we are constantly on teams of various kinds, even ones that seem different from traditional teams (family, friends, religious activities, etc). Group Dynamics is a course that allows students to explore various roles they will have in these teams, and it provides an opportunity to practice interpersonal skills to improve and enhance their future experiences in teams. A unique feature of this course is that it uses the flipped classroom technique, so students have a hands-on, experiential opportunity to take a deep dive into the concepts of working on a team. This resource is intended to help faculty new to teaching Group Dynamics understand how we flip the classroom. It should also be helpful to other faculty who are implementing groups in the classroom. It is hoped that this resource will provide you with ideas about implementing the flipped classroom into your teaching repertoire. Overall, this OER offers a brief overview of the flipped classroom technique followed by an introduction to a specific method of flipping the classroom that is used in the Group Dynamics course at Conestoga College. The resource ends with a review of how teamwork in a flipped classroom environment helps students develop essential employability skills. It should provide faculty with a solid footing to take the next steps in learning how to teach this course using a flipped classroom method, but it should also serve as a guide for other faculty members who want to know about this teaching style.