DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
Tuesday – Small Group Dynamics
(Lansing II)
9:30 Skit/Introduction
9:50 Task/Maintenance large group explanation
10:00 Small group Task/Maintenance activity
10:45 Large group debriefing
11:00 Cog’s Ladder presentation
11:30 Wrap-up
Goal: To have campers understand how task and maintenance functions are necessary to group work, and how Cog's Ladder maps a group's growth and development.
Objectives:
Campers will watch a skit by subcommittee demonstrating Task/Maintenance functions.
Campers will work together to re-create Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head from the skit with the proper features/accessories to enact Task/Maintenance functions.
Campers will assess their group development through Cog's Ladder.
9:30 Introduction and skit: Mr. and Mrs. Potato head marital disagreement with counselor. Make Potato Heads out of large cardboard
9:50 Explanation of Task/Maintenance functions as portrayed in the skit, by use of PowerPoint. PowerPoint slides will show the task/function with a picture of that part of the skit.
10:00 Break into small groups to put Mr. and Mrs. Potato head together as shown in skit. Group leaders will observe the activity and note use of task and maintenance functions using the charts provided.
10:30 Group leaders will provide feedback to their groups on the functions they observed. Campers will complete the group evaluation worksheet. Group should discuss the worksheet when everyone has completed it.
10:45 Return to large group to do "What is your preference" and a brief discussion on how the functions worked in each group.
11:00 Discussion/Demonstration of Cog's Ladder using video clips from Toy Story to show each stage. After each clip an explanation of that stage will be given by committee members using PowerPoint. They will put a poster board with the name and picture of that stage, on the ladder. After clips, groups will discuss where they think they are on the ladder.
11:30 Wrap up
SMALL GROUP DYNAMICS – UNDERSTANDING GROUPS
DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS
(Taking care of your group)
v ENCOURAGING:
Being friendly, by word or action; letting others know their ideas and feelings are worthy.
v EXPRESSING FEELINGS:
Knowing when moods or feelings are present; being able to share own feelings with others and name the feelings of the group.
v HARMONIZING:
Getting others to explore their differences and/or work together.
v COMPROMISING:
Being able to give up or modify one’s own idea’s in order to keep the group from breaking up.
v GATE-KEEPING:
Helping others to participate; inviting members who wants too speak into the discussion.
v STANDING SETTING:
Helping the group to see where they are going; where they are now, and how to get there.
v COOPERATING:
Participating in the work of the group.
TASK FUNCTIONS
(Getting the job done)
v INITIATING:
Proposing or defining problems; suggesting ways to solve problems.
v SEEKING INFORMATION OR OPINIONS:
Offering suggestions, ideas, or important facts.
v GIVING INFORMATION OR OPINIONS:
Offering suggestions, ideas, or important facts.
v CLARIFYING & ELABORATING
Clearing up confusion; offering examples or possibilities.
v SUMMARIZING:
Pulling together ideas; suggesting decisions for the group to accept or reject.
v CONSENSUS TESTING:
Checking to see how close the group is to agreement.
DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
Understanding Groups Evaluation
Respond to the following questions after your task is complete. Your small group leaders will assign some questions to you in the interest of saving time and then ask for the group’s reaction to the responses to get a sense of the group. When we return to the large group, you may be asked for feedback from these questions.
1. Rank your estimation of your small group’s effectiveness in getting the job done (on a scale of 1-10: 1= low, 10= high.
2. How did you contribute personally? Why did you or not?
3. What good leadership skills did you notice/ contribute?
4. What obstacles had to be overcome?
5. How were controversies handled?
6. Was anyone’s opinion altered by someone else?
7. Who took a leadership role? How did the group react?
8. Were you open to listening to other’s ideas? How well do you feel you were listened to?
9. How did the group feel after the job was done? Did the group finish the task and, if not, how did the group feel?
10. Any other comments regarding how your group worked as a group?
Understanding Small Groups
Through Task and Maintenance Functions
1. Look at the list of Maintenance Functions necessary within a group. Which do you find most difficult? Which are the easiest? Why?
2. Reflect on the Task Functions necessary within a group. Which do you find most difficult? Which do you find the easiest? Why?
3. What was the most productive or most interesting group you have ever been in? Why? What made it work?
DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
MAINTENANCE OBSERVATION
(Maintaining Relationships)
Directions: (ADULT LEADER) Mark the appropriate column below a small group members name each time
he/she performs a particular maintenance functions during the small group activity.
Small Group Members
MAINTENANCE FUNCTION
ENCOURAGING:Being friendly, by word or action; letting others
know their ideas and feelings are worthy.
EXPRESSING FEELINGS:
Knowing when moods or feelings are present; being able to share own feelings with others and name the feelings of the group.
HARMONIZING:
Getting others to explore their differences and/or work together.
COMPROMISING:
Being able to give up or modify one’s own idea’s in order to keep the group from breaking up.
GATE-KEEPING:
Helping others to participate; inviting members who wants too speak into the discussion.
STANDING SETTING:
Helping the group to see where they are going;
Where they are now,
and how to get there.
COOPERATING:
Participating in the
work of the group.
DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
TASK OBSERVATIONS
(Getting the Job Done)
Directions: (TEEN LEADER) Mark the appropriate column below a small group members name each time
he/she performs a particular task function during the small group activity.
Small Group Members
TASK FUNCTION
INITIATING:Proposing or defining problems; suggesting ways to solve problems.
SEEKING
INFORMATIONOR OPINIONS:
Offering suggestions, ideas, or important facts.
GIVING INFORMATION
OR OPINIONS:Offering suggestions, ideas, or important facts.
CLARIFYING & ELABORATING:
Clearing up confusion; offering examples or possibilities.
SUMMARIZING:
Pulling together ideas; suggesting decisions for the group to accept or reject.
CONSENSUS TESTING:
Checking to see how close the group is to agreement.
DYLC 2011 – Team
Small Group Dynamics
Cog’s Ladder: A Model of Group Development
Cog’s Ladder is one of the many models that provide insight into some of the fairly predictable stages groups’ progress through as they develop.Think of the groups you belong to . . . where would you place them on Cog’s Ladder?
Stage 1: POLITE STAGEGetting acquaintedPolite conversationNeed for group approval is strongConflict usually absentJudgments take place
Stage 2: WHY WE’RE HEREGoals and objectives are questioned and ultimately establishedIndividuals try to assess where they “fit in”Social cliques/subgroups may form
Stage 3: BID FOR POWEREnergy very high in this stageConflict and possible combativeness may occurCliques and individuals wield power and control
Stage 4: CONSTRUCTIVE Active listeningIndividual agendas given up for the group’s agendaHigh creativityGroup cooperation
Stage 5: ESPRIT
Intense loyalty/common interest
High group morale
Disagreement is appropriate and offered with respect
Reflecting on Cog’s Ladder
Take a few minutes to think about your small group and how the group has interacted with each other so far this week. Answer the questions below honestly. Then take time to discuss with your small group what level you feel that your group has attained on Cog’s Ladder.
1. When a situation or obstacle has presented itself to the group, does the group quickly get through it to have free time, or does the group take time and discussion before a final decision is made?
2. Is there a single person in your small group that is a dominant speaker during group discussions and will not allow others input?
3. Has your small group had any disagreements or arguments you can’t seem to work through?
4. Is everyone in your small group established enough with each other to be open minded to new ideas and ways of thinking?
5. Would your small group be described as quiet and polite, or talkative and always in discussion?
6. During discussions, does the group take turns talking and acknowledge when someone else wants to give input?
7. Have roles been established in your small group? Have the goals of the week been established and individual goals discussed in your small group?
8. What level of Cog’s Ladder do you think your group is on? Explain.
NEEDED:
1. Cardboard Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads...... Nancy will find large cardboard refrigerator boxes will make at a meeting
2. Skit...... Clare is writing this/All 3 teens will do skit
3. PowerPoint of Task/Functions using pictures of scenes from the skit...... Kevin (?)
4. Felt board (?) Potato Heads with accessories for each of the groups...Krista will figure this out
5. Task/Function worksheet for Campers...... use last years?
6. Have "What is Your Preference" sheet ready...... Sue
7. Decide who is leading discussions
8. Download video clips from Toy Story: Cog’s Ladder Movie Clip Times How does Pete want us to do this
Polite- Toy Story (16:55-17:47)
Why we’re here – Toy Story 3 (26:33 – 27:13)
Bid for Power- Toy Story (30:38- 31:40)
Constructive- Toy Story (59:49- 1:00:41)
Esprit- Toy Story (1:13:12- 1:15:22)
9. Make poster boards with Toy Story pic and Cog's Ladder stages...... Make at a sub meeting
10. Need a large ladder...... Nancy will call Pat to see if Bethany House has one in basement that we can use