LINC, 2253, Week

1
LINC, 2/25/3, Week 6 Learning About Project
Partners Objectives You should be able to (1)
understand the mission of several project
partners, (2) understand the projects of several
other teams, and (3) discover some things that
work for other teams that you might apply. You
should also begin to think about how to improve
your team meetings.Schedule

• Good evaluations (from LS-5)
• Review
• Contextual shift
• Valuing your PPs mission
• Reports
• Improving your team meetings

2
Shifting the Context
Keys to learning 1
Can you imagine using something from lecture or
readings in another context, like your project?
3
Valuing the Mission
Keys to learning 2
Can you imagine valuing the mission of your
Project Partner?
Unless the emotive center of our lives is
touched, it is as if a fuse remains
unlit. -- Richard Foster
4
Mini-reports

• 1. HFH Art
• 2. CUF TeacherLink
• 3. NSU Arsenic
• 4. NSU Pollution
• 5. HFH Construction

5
Your Team Meeting
Need a 3 volunteers
Imagine that this is a glimpse of what transpires
at your next team meeting. Mina Okay, lets get
started! Marcos Hey Michael, did you catch the
Illini game? Michael Ya, I went with Michelle
it was a blast! Mina Where is Michelle? She was
supposed to bring the agenda and the results of
our background research. Michael I think she has
an appointment with her Philosophy prof. this
afternoon. She should be here in a while. Mina
Well what are we supposed to do until then?!
1. What can you observe? Write a list of
observations.
2. You decide that it is time for you to
contribute. What would you say? Craft/write
a statement.
6
Some observations from the start of the meeting

• No advance agenda
• Marcos is off task
• Michael is seeing Michelle
• Michelle is not there
• Mina is frustrated
• Everyones name starts with M (except you?)

7
Some statements you could make

• What topic were we working on?
• Does Michelle have a phone? Could we call her?
• Any ideas what we could do next?
• I wonder whether we need some ground rules for
  our team and our meetings?
• Can I change my name to Melba?

8
Better Meetings, 1 of 3

• Preparing for the meeting
• Whats the purpose or product of the meeting?
• Suggest an agenda
• Send in advance
• Invite revisions
• Arrange for a recorder
• Main discussion points
• Action items or next steps, include who and when
• Items to table for later

9
Better Meetings, 2 of 3

• Conducting the meeting
• Warm up help others get ready
• Review the agenda agree on adjournment time
• On task? To stay or not to stay, that is the Q!
• Yes, minimize tangents to accomplish your purpose
• No, allow for creative journeys off task
• Keep a broad perspective
• Enjoy the moment
• Seize the day

10
Your team meeting, cont
You call Michelles cell phone, but get no
answer. You decide to recreate the agenda, and
then get to work on the main topics of the day.
Another glimpse Michael on another topic, I
was thinking that we should get a list of
businesses that might contribute to the project.
I know some guys who work in the area, and we
could approach their bosses asking for donations
of money or stuff we need. Mina Well it would be
useful to have some funding, but maybe we should
Michael Ya, and if we got enough money, we
could throw a party sort of a kick-off event
that highlights our project. I know someone who
works at a caterer who would give us a deal on
food and stuff. And the tent and awning business
might donate the use of a big tent for the
day. Marcos Would our team have to organize the
event? Michael Ya, but it wouldnt be that hard.
Im sure that we could get some of our group who
arent here today to cover the extra work. Like
Michelle, she loves doing this kind of stuff, and
Im sure she could get some of her friends to
help!
Observations? Your response?
11
Some observations from the continuing meeting

• Michael is dominating the speaking time
• The discussion may be off topic
• Michael seems to assert himself and wants to
  advance the idea of a party
• Mina has a concern
• Michael interrupted Mina
• Marcos has a concern
• Michael suppresses Marcos concern by
• assuming absent team members will help
• assuming Michelle can get others outside the team
  to help

12
Some statements you could make

• Mina, did you have a suggestion?
• Marcos, are you concerned that this party will
  be too much work for our team?
• Could we note Michaels idea in the minutes, and
  return to it later today or next time, after we
  have completed the agenda items?

13
Better Meetings, 3 of 3

• Listening
• In most cases, spend most of your time listening
• Ask questions to guide the meeting and to insure
  that soft-spoken contributors are heard
• Restate as needed to insure accuracy
• Help moderate the dominating non-contributors
  (observeaskrestatemoderate)
• Concluding
• Summarize key accomplishments of the meeting
• Note next steps
• Assess how you might improve next time

14
Team Meetings Chickens

• Chicken Run
• Record - elements of the meeting.
• What are the chickens project goal and scope?
• Discuss in teams

How can you enhance your next meeting?