The Team Players: Individual, Team, and Class

A typical organization has three layers of human interaction: individual, group, and organization (Schermerhorn, Hunt, & Osborn, 2007). During these workshops, we will build a learning organization that consists of individuals, teams, and the classroom [See Image 1]. To be successful, individuals must prepare for and contribute to team activities. In turn, the teams must encourage and develop their members. Likewise, each team will contribute to developing the class, and the class will contribute to developing the teams and the individuals in the class. In other words, to become a successful learning organization, individuals must accept responsibility for developing themselves and others, and groups must take responsibility for developing their members.

The dynamic interaction among individuals and groups within the classroom will help us to learn, grow, and have fun. As with all group processes, this will not always be easy, but learning and performing with others can be more enriching than trying to learn alone.