Tees for You and Me - Advanced Communication and Relationships Inquiry UnitTeacher TipsThe business plan in this inquiry sets the stage for the inquiry’s focus on communication and does not need to be complex; problem solving and conflict resolution are its focus. Within this inquiry, the business plan is a tool to help motivate and focus students to study communication in the workplace. To get students started, the teacher may need to select some activities and use some communication assessment tools to help students consider communication and teamwork skills. Many students never receive formal training in communication. It is assumed that, because we speak, we can communicate. Use David Johnson’s book Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization (listed above) to help students begin the process of thinking about their own interpersonal skills, as well as what it takes to work in groups and teams in the workplace. Students should work in small groups to complete this assignment. Groups of two are best if students have not worked in groups and do not have well-developed group skills. Remember that each additional person you add to a group creates more complexity within that group’s functioning. Each person in the group brings the complexity of their personality to the group and to the group functioning. See cooperative learning strategies to teach process and assess group work to help the groups function. For assistance in managing inquiries in the classroom, read "Managing Project Based Learning: Principles from the Field" by Mergendoller and Thomas (2002), http://www.novelapproachpbl.com/PBLResearch.htm.
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