Our Results as a TEAM:
As a team we have three of the four different types of learning styles. Fortunately, having a diverse group will help us to look at different problems in a number of ways. In our group, we have two people that learn by assimilating, two that learn by accommodating, and one that learns by converging. The only learning style that we lack is the diverging style.
In order for us to work efficiently we will focus on each of our strengths as well as our weaknesses. The accommodators in the group will add to our ability to take risks; they also naturally tend to take the lead on things. They have a strong ability for setting projects in motion and for getting things going. When the rest of the team is struggling to find a starting point for our projects, they will help us get the ball rolling! Our assimilators are our planners. Once we have a direction to head in they will help us along by creating a strategy for us to accomplish our end goal. If we run into trouble along the way, our converging style learner will come to the rescue! They have an excellent knack for solving problems. In addition, if our team is finding it difficult to make a decision, the converging style has strong decision-making skills. We can turn to them if we are stuck on any particular portion of our project.
For any team to work efficiently it is important for us to recognize our own abilities individually as well as, as a team. Just being aware of what we each “specialize” in gives us a head start on any project we undertake! Of course, we also must be aware of where we might be lacking. In our group’s case we do not have the diverging learning style. Each team member must make extra effort to be creative as that is one of the diverging learners’ strengths. Making sure we each contribute when we are searching for ideas will also be important. We also must be careful to be more understanding of each other. All of these things are gifts that the diverging style has. Being aware that as a team we are lacking these attributes will help us to conscientiously make up for them together!
In order for us to work efficiently we will focus on each of our strengths as well as our weaknesses. The accommodators in the group will add to our ability to take risks; they also naturally tend to take the lead on things. They have a strong ability for setting projects in motion and for getting things going. When the rest of the team is struggling to find a starting point for our projects, they will help us get the ball rolling! Our assimilators are our planners. Once we have a direction to head in they will help us along by creating a strategy for us to accomplish our end goal. If we run into trouble along the way, our converging style learner will come to the rescue! They have an excellent knack for solving problems. In addition, if our team is finding it difficult to make a decision, the converging style has strong decision-making skills. We can turn to them if we are stuck on any particular portion of our project.
For any team to work efficiently it is important for us to recognize our own abilities individually as well as, as a team. Just being aware of what we each “specialize” in gives us a head start on any project we undertake! Of course, we also must be aware of where we might be lacking. In our group’s case we do not have the diverging learning style. Each team member must make extra effort to be creative as that is one of the diverging learners’ strengths. Making sure we each contribute when we are searching for ideas will also be important. We also must be careful to be more understanding of each other. All of these things are gifts that the diverging style has. Being aware that as a team we are lacking these attributes will help us to conscientiously make up for them together!
Conflict Resolution in a Small Group:
No matter what varying learning styles a team has it is important when first approaching a conflict to acknowledge the process that Kolb shows us:
1. You must identify the problem.
2. You select the problem to solve.
3. Look for varying solutions to solve the problem you have chosen to solve.
4. Assess all of the likely results from the solutions you have found.
5. Then choose a solution and implement it (Kolb 13.)
According to Kolb's diagram for problem solving the following is a layout of which learning style has the strengths for each step of the problem solving process.
The group member's who learn by the assimilating learning style will be strongest in selecting the problem and looking for all the possible solutions.
The member's that learn by the converging method will be most successful in identifying the consequences for the list pf possible solutions and then choosing the best solution from them.
The group member's that have the accommodating learning style will lead us by executing the chosen solution.
We will need to work as a group to ensure that just because we do not have a member that has the diverging learning style that we do not ignore the strengths they would have to offer in problem solving. As a group once we have selected a solution we must compare it to reality, and work together to identify any issues that could come from the solution.
Kolb, David A. Kolb Learning Style Inventory. Experience Based Learning Systems, Inc., 2007
1. You must identify the problem.
2. You select the problem to solve.
3. Look for varying solutions to solve the problem you have chosen to solve.
4. Assess all of the likely results from the solutions you have found.
5. Then choose a solution and implement it (Kolb 13.)
According to Kolb's diagram for problem solving the following is a layout of which learning style has the strengths for each step of the problem solving process.
The group member's who learn by the assimilating learning style will be strongest in selecting the problem and looking for all the possible solutions.
The member's that learn by the converging method will be most successful in identifying the consequences for the list pf possible solutions and then choosing the best solution from them.
The group member's that have the accommodating learning style will lead us by executing the chosen solution.
We will need to work as a group to ensure that just because we do not have a member that has the diverging learning style that we do not ignore the strengths they would have to offer in problem solving. As a group once we have selected a solution we must compare it to reality, and work together to identify any issues that could come from the solution.
Kolb, David A. Kolb Learning Style Inventory. Experience Based Learning Systems, Inc., 2007