I Slack While My Small Groups Work Like a Border Collie with a Hundred Sheep

I've been gone so long because I got a horrible sinus infection from my wonderful two day Team Skills Class. At least that's my story. So you didn't get a chance to hear about how some of the groups in my regular Small Group Communication classes fell apart and put themselves back together again. But I'm better now, back to plain allergies -- the constant drip of my response to Central Oregon. So it's time to give out some awards.

The small groups in my two classes have performed their major oral reports and I want to give some special shout outs to teams that had a little something extra.

The award for . . .

Most Artistic Team Video goes to The Dominators
In my afternoon class, this team created a truly amazing and professional looking video, with excellent editing and sound on. They used it to display both situational and task conflict. It opened their presentation and it's fancy opening image displayed throughout. I also enjoyed this team's use of specially printed team t-shirts, even though they said, "The Denominators." Certainly not the common denominators!

Most Creative Study Tools goes to The Out-of-Towners
This morning group printed study notes on the backs of packets of seeds and put the packets in a little pot, putting a pot on each person's desk. They ended their presentation with a return to the seed/growth metaphor as a way of understanding the different methods of negotiation.

Most Lively Presentation goes to Sunshine Posse
These folks started off the quarter with their eye-catching use of yellow shirts as a team solidarity symbol. They kept their shirts and added a tweed sports jacket with a large yellow patch sporting the team name on the back. They took turns shared for the role of "Used Car Dealer" in skits about methods of negotiation. They even had little cut outs of the cars. They combined the skits with a well organized powerpoint that gave a solid overview of the content.

Best Integrated Team Video goes to Just Seven
Ah, the Magic Bullet Blender! This morning team taught us about methods of conflict management using a very fun video focused on making smoothies. The video'd skits were contained within a PowerPoint presentation. I hope to see the skits someday being used as a sales tool for the product (and the team members can remember the class for the $$ it brought them). This team also did a fine job with showing their team solidarity through the use of the bandana. Each team member wore one above a white shirt.

Best Use of Hollywood's Conflicts goes to The Comm. Group
Wow. This afternoon team used clips from The Office, You've Got Mail, and other tinsel town products to illustrate the methods of conflict management. Each speaker wore something that represented Hollywood (dark glasses, pink feather boas, or a t-shirt with the picture of a star). They took so much care with their PowerPoint that the bullets were little film reels. The team showed both solidarity, knowledge, and a desire to keep the audience interested.

Cleverest Management of PowerPoint Animation goes to Team 5
I loved the use of the various types of slide change and line movement used by this team. I was especially amused by the bouncing titles that jumped in from a space outside the frame.

Most Friendly Group goes to Thundercats
This group adapted well to a last minute change and was very willing to go first when a member of the team that was supposed to go first was late. They chose to get ready early in order to save another team from losing points.

Most Thorough Coverage of Important Course Material and Best Use of the Web goes to Conflict Island
I know this group worked hard to learn the material and deliver it with thoroughness and skill. Their presentation was well organized and had everything we might want to know about what conflict is and how it's situational variables impact it. During the quarter they also used a blog to contact each other. They also had a mug made for each team member. It says, I survived Conflict Island. I got one too! So, THANK YOU Conflict Island!