It is important to use teams in Problem Based Learning because it is important to learn and have all the group members share their opinion. Problem Based Learning works well with collaboration, communication, and cooperation. All members of the specific team has to pull their weight to achieve their goals.
Some problems that I notice with PBL and student teams are our specific topic: "The Silent Partner." Group members drop in and out of the forums, emails, and projects, and leaves other group members to pick up the pieces, and pull the extra weight. I have been guilty of this too, waiting until the last minute to look back on forum topics, and our PBL project and have posted things at the last minute or late.
Some of the other problems with PBL and student teams are, when one person has it all together, and is pretty much on task, the other student group members take advantage of that fact, and then post or communicate with the group just enough to get by.
Jason was pretty much on it because he emailed us, posted reminders in forums, and was the project manager, and did a 110% job on our PBL project. He held the group together and encouraged all of us, and even gave reminders of specific things that were due for each one of our group members. He even texted us, too, when he needed to.
Strategies to manage student conflict within student teams are to keep lines of communication open, and to never give up. Also, to be sensitive and to be understanding of other people's situations. People are fighting hard battles everyday. Also, not to judge people and to ask for clarification when not understanding a text, or forum response, or email response. Also, not to jump to conclusions, and to ask for a mediation with your professor/instructor as soon as possible if a situation between team members can't be resolved.
I know Johanna was asking where our Screenr presentation was located. Other than that, I give props to Jason, Kayelani, and Johanna for hanging in there.=)
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