In this course you will be typically working in face-to-face groups of four or virtually with other teams to solve the team-based activities. The intent of teamwork is to encourage, in depth, dialogue and debate as a proven way to enhance your understand of the concepts and their relationships.

For the team to work effectively, it is helpful to establish ground rules and expectations for your team early in the term. Items that you may wish to discuss including sharing of responsibilities, accountability and your team's modes of communications. The following questions should provide a basis for developing your team "operating agreement."

• How will your group identify yourself? (name)
• How will you communicate? (face-to-face, discussion board, e-mail, instant messenger, chat, phone or a combination)
• When will you communicate? (day, time)
• How quickly should group members be expected to respond to e-mails or discussion board postings? (twelve hours, within one day)
• What roles or duties will each member perform? (Team Captain, Secretary, Scribe etc.)
• Who is responsible for posting the team responses to the main discussion board?
• How will the group handle a member that is not participating?
• Discuss any other unique topics to your group?

Post your operational guidelines to the discussion board by Saturday midnight of the third week of class.

* Doran, Cheryl."The Effective Use of Learning Groups in Online Education." New Horizons in Adult Education, Summer 2001, 15(2), http://www.nova.edu/~aed/horizons/volume15n2.html. Retrived August 8, 2005.