One aspect of working as part of a team that I did not consider before this week's reading is adjourning. Every team goes through an adjourning phase whether it be in-depth reflection on the practices of the team or a simple "good-bye". Some teams I have worked on have had excellent adjourning periods while others could have been improved upon. The hardest team I had to leave was my fellow undergraduate students at Plymouth State University. I had known some of those people for four years, and worked with them in various capacities throughout our studies. The last project I worked on was a senior seminar capstone-like project with a long paper and public presentation. We worked for 3 months together on this project, really completing the bulk of the work in the two-weeks or so before the due date. After our final presentation was completed, my two group-mates and I had dinner together and talked a lot about our teamwork. Although it was a hard transition to no longer be working with them on the project or going to school with them (we all graduated about a week later), our adjourning seemed to help us feel more confident to meet the needs of team situations in the field.
Our comments during the adjourning were mostly positive- that we all had clear roles, we communicated well, and that our presentation was killer (except for my nervous stuttering!). What we could have done differently was discuss some of the hiccups in our team performance. For example, of myself, Rachel, and Kelly, Rachel and I made the bulk of the decisions about what entered the PowerPoint Presentation. This could have been more effective if we had made joint decisions. I also suspect that beginning really working on the project sooner could have been beneficial. Overall, I think we exhibited excellent teamwork, and this was reflected in our friendly and jovial adjourning period, and yet there were things we could have improved on to make our closure more effective. This was the hardest team I had to leave because I felt like we worked so well together and had such a shared vision for our project.
Neisha, What a great experience you had in walking through your undergraduate program. It has been over 20 years since I got my undergrad degree. I wish I could remember those times a bit better. It was somewhat of a whirl wind as I finished my degree in 3 1/2 years to catch up with my husband. It sounds like the changes you would have made are pretty simple ones. Nothing stood out like a major disaster. Do you feel like your graduate work has the same interaction?
ReplyDeleteDarci Larson
Hello Neisha,
ReplyDeleteI too feel that it was hard leaving my undergraduate friends. Unfortunately so of the people who I was close with have moved to different states and we have all fell out of touch. I think my high school was worst for me as i was with some of the ladies from 6th grade as my school was 6-12th grade.
I feel the same way about the adjourning period, and the effects it have on me and my coworker that I worked with during one summer during summer with our head start children. I know that it was really hard for me that we can't see each other, because we have went our separate ways. I'm a still a lead teacher, and she has moved up to be a assistant director over our head start program. The adjourning period was not a great experience, but we have made some great accomplishments in our lives that has brought us closer together. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHello Neisha, I thank you so much for being that person that is really hard on me, giving me the feedback that I need to become that strong professional educator that knows how to communicate with her colleagues, coworkers, and families and children. I know the colleague that had had the conflict, and disagreements with is no longer in my classroom, because I started to speak and communicate with the right people, and in a professional way. I know now if it wasn't for the responses, and feedback that I receive from my colleagues at Walden, it would not have happen. I really want to send a very Big Thanks to you Neisha Hernandez for bringing me this far. I appreciate you, and I hope that we will continue to keep in touch. I hope this is not the last class that we will hear from each other. My personal information is Marion Howze, address is 14001 Three Rivers Road, apt. 14 A, Gulfport, Ms. 39503. phone number is 228-213-9468, and secondary number is 228-424-5768. Have a Blessed and Wonderful week.
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