Warm-Up: Group Challenges Poll

Instructions: Quick poll! Raise your hand if you have experienced the following challenges in a group project:

• Unclear Roles? (No one knew who was doing what)
• Communication Breakdown? (Messages got lost or misunderstood)
• Conflict? (Disagreements that weren't resolved well)
• Unequal Participation? (Some did all the work, others did little)

Think about what made these challenging.

Script: Managing Group Dynamics

Introduction (Warm-Up: Group Challenges Poll - 5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Warm-Up: Group Challenges Poll slide)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're diving into something incredibly important for your engineering careers: mastering group dynamics. We've all been in group projects, right? And sometimes, they can be… a bit challenging. Let's do a quick poll to see what common struggles we've faced."

"Raise your hand if you've ever experienced unclear roles in a group project. How about communication breakdowns? Conflicts that weren't resolved well? Or unequal participation, where some people carried the load while others didn't?"

(Pause for student responses, acknowledge them briefly.)

"Thanks for sharing! It sounds like many of these challenges are familiar. The good news is, these aren't just 'things that happen' – they're aspects of group dynamics that we can learn to manage and even master. And that's exactly what we're going to do today. By the end of this session, you'll have practical strategies to make your group projects run smoother and be more successful."

Introduction to Group Dynamics (5 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to "Welcome! Let's Master Teamwork." slide and then "What are Group Dynamics?" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"So, what exactly are 'group dynamics'? Simply put, they're the interactions and interpersonal relationships within a team. Think about the energy in a room, how people talk to each other, how decisions are made – that's all part of it."

"Why do they matter so much for engineers? Well, engineering is rarely a solo sport. You'll work in teams throughout your academic career and certainly in your professional life. Effective group dynamics are critical for successful project completion, efficient problem-solving, fostering innovation, and honestly, for your own career success. Companies don't just want smart engineers; they want engineers who can collaborate effectively."

Key Strategies for Success (10 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to "Strategy 1: Set Clear Expectations" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"Let's get into some key strategies. Our first strategy is about Setting Clear Expectations. Right at the start of any project, it's vital to discuss: Who does what? What are everyone's roles and responsibilities? This isn't just about avoiding duplicated effort, it's about accountability."

"Beyond roles, you need to Establish Group Norms. How will we communicate? Is it through email, a group chat, or weekly meetings? How will we make decisions – by consensus, majority vote, or does one person have the final say? These 'rules of engagement' make a huge difference."

"And finally, Set Project Goals & Milestones. What are you aiming for, and by when? Breaking a large project into smaller, manageable chunks with deadlines keeps everyone on track."

(Refer to Discussion Guide: Dynamic Dialogue for discussion prompt 1)

"Has anyone had a great experience with a team that set clear expectations early on? What impact did it have?"

(Pause for brief discussion, 1-2 student comments)

(Teacher transitions to "Strategy 2: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"Next up: Communication. This might seem obvious, but it's often where teams falter. It's not just about talking; it's about Active Listening – truly hearing and understanding what your teammates are saying, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak."

"Open & Honest Feedback is also crucial. This means giving feedback constructively, focusing on the behavior or the work, not the person. And equally important, being open to receiving feedback. It's how we grow."

"Also, Choose the Right Channel. Sometimes a quick chat in person is best, other times an email is better for documentation, or a group chat for quick updates. Be intentional about how you communicate."

(Refer to Discussion Guide: Dynamic Dialogue for discussion prompt 2)

"Can you think of a time when communication really helped your team overcome a hurdle? What made it effective?"

(Pause for brief discussion, 1-2 student comments)

(Teacher transitions to "Strategy 3: Navigate Conflict Constructively" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"Now, let's talk about Conflict. It's not a matter of if conflict will happen, but when. And it's not always bad! Healthy debate can lead to better solutions. The key is to Navigate Conflict Constructively."

"First, Address Issues Early. Don't let small problems fester and become big ones. Second, Focus on the Problem, Not the Person. Attack the issue, not your teammate. Third, Seek Win-Win Solutions. Look for common ground and compromise so everyone feels heard and respected."

"In some cases, if a conflict is particularly sticky, Mediation might be needed – involving an impartial third party, like a professor or teaching assistant."

(Refer to Discussion Guide: Dynamic Dialogue for discussion prompt 3)

"What's one approach you've seen work well, or even not so well, when dealing with conflict in a team?"

(Pause for brief discussion, 1-2 student comments)

(Teacher transitions to "Strategy 4: Foster a Positive Environment" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"Finally, let's talk about Fostering a Positive Environment. This is about making your team a place where everyone feels valued and motivated. Build Trust by being dependable and acting with integrity."

"Encourage Participation. Make sure everyone's voice is heard, even the quieter members. Sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places. Celebrate Successes, big and small, to keep morale high. And always Support Each Other, offering help and encouragement when a teammate is struggling."

Activity: Scenario Solutions (8 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to "Recap: Your Teamwork Toolkit" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"Alright, we've covered the four pillars for successful group dynamics: Clear Expectations, Effective Communication, Constructive Conflict Navigation, and a Positive Environment. Now, let's put these into practice."

"I'm going to divide you into small groups of 2-3. I'll display some scenarios from the Activity: Scenario Solutions. In your groups, discuss how you would apply the strategies we just talked about to resolve the situation. You'll have about 5 minutes to discuss. Then, we'll quickly hear from a couple of groups."

(Divide students into groups. Display Activity: Scenario Solutions and allow 5 minutes for discussion.)

"Okay, let's hear from a few groups. Who would like to share their approach to Scenario 1? What strategies did you focus on?"

(Facilitate brief sharing from 1-2 groups.)

"Excellent ideas! It's clear how applying these strategies can make a real difference."

Cool Down: One-Minute Reflection (2 minutes)

(Teacher transitions to "What's Your Next Move?" slide from Slide Deck: Mastering Group Dynamics)

"To wrap up, let's take one minute for a quick reflection. Think about everything we've discussed today – the strategies for setting expectations, communicating, handling conflict, and fostering a positive environment."

"What is ONE strategy you will intentionally try in your next group project to improve team dynamics? Jot it down mentally, or if you prefer, on a piece of paper."

(Allow one minute for reflection.)

"Would anyone like to briefly share the strategy they plan to try?"

(Listen to 1-2 student shares if time allows.)

"Fantastic! Remember, these skills are just as vital as your technical knowledge. By actively managing group dynamics, you're not just improving your projects; you're building essential skills for your entire engineering career. Thank you, everyone!"

Discussion Guide: Dynamic Dialogue

Use these prompts during the "Key Strategies for Success" section to encourage student participation.

Strategy 1: Set Clear Expectations

"Has anyone had a great experience with a team that set clear expectations early on? What impact did it have?"

Strategy 2: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!

"Can you think of a time when communication really helped your team overcome a hurdle? What made it effective?"

Strategy 3: Navigate Conflict Constructively

"What's one approach you've seen work well, or even not so well, when dealing with conflict in a team?"

Strategy 4: Foster a Positive Environment

"What's one small thing you could do in your next team project to help foster a more positive and inclusive environment?"

Activity: Scenario Solutions

Instructions: In your small groups, read the following scenarios. Discuss how you would apply the strategies we just learned (Clear Expectations, Effective Communication, Constructive Conflict Navigation, Positive Environment) to address and resolve each situation.

Scenario 1: The Missing Member

Your engineering project group has a member, Alex, who hasn't been attending meetings regularly or responding to group messages. A major deadline is approaching, and Alex's portion of the work is critical and incomplete. Other team members are starting to get frustrated and worried.

Discussion Questions:

• Which strategies are most relevant here?
• What specific steps would your group take to address this, both with Alex and as a team?
• How would you ensure the conversation remains constructive and focuses on the problem?

Scenario 2: Design Disagreement

Your group is working on the initial design phase of a new product. Two members, Ben and Chloe, have fundamentally different ideas about the core functionality, and neither is willing to budge. Their disagreements are becoming heated and are stalling the team's progress.

Discussion Questions:

• How can the team apply constructive conflict navigation techniques in this situation?
• What communication strategies could help Ben and Chloe understand each other's perspectives better?
• How can the rest of the team facilitate a win-win solution?

Scenario 3: Vague Vision

Your team has started a long-term project, but there's a general sense of confusion about the project's precise objectives and individual responsibilities. Meetings often go off-topic, and progress feels slow because everyone is waiting for someone else to define the next steps.

Discussion Questions:

• How would your team re-establish clear expectations?
• What tools or methods could you use to define roles, responsibilities, and project milestones more effectively?
• How can the team ensure everyone is aligned on the project's vision going forward?

Cool Down: One-Minute Reflection

Instructions: Take one minute to quietly reflect on the following question:

What is ONE strategy from today's lesson that you will intentionally try in your next group project to improve team dynamics?