Effective_Communication_and_Collaberation

Learning teams in the college environment provide a benefit to the adult learner. The team can be very successful if the leader can communicate and collaborate with all personnel assigned to the group. To understand how to accomplish effective communication, the group must understand the difference in learning styles and personality traits. Three of the most predominant learning styles include logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, and naturalistic. Personality types also have an effect on how the team works together for a common goal. The traits of a thinker, organizer, and giver personalities combined with the various learning style can lead to success or cause conflict among the members of a team. To assign tasks properly and work as a team, all members should understand the traits and methods of each personality and learning style. A person with the logical-mathematical learning style recognizes abstract patterns; reason inductively and deductively, discern relationships and connections, and reason scientifically. They approach learning by organizing material in a logical order, develop a system and find patters, and arrange notes in outline and graph form (Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits, 2007). To work with that style of student, the leader should deliver information in a thought provoking way. This could include an open discussion, scientific experiment, or thought provoking questions. Another way to relate information is to provide the student with an outline of the topic leaving him or her to research and analyze the topics the group is focusing on. The second learning style is the visual-spatial learner. This learner perceives and forms objects accurately, recognizes relationships between objects and represents information graphically. This learner will approach information to learn by drawing mind maps, using color in notes to organize, visualize the material, and develop graphic organizers (Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits, 2007). To communicate with the visual/spatial learner a teacher or team leader could present information as a graphic representation of the material or a lecture focusing on the physical aspects of a topic. The third learning style of naturalistic primarily looks at how to maintain a relationship with nature. The learner will form groups with likeminded individuals and strive to connect to nature whenever possible (Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits, 2007). To relate effectively to this style a leader could set group meetings at a park or outside patio area. The naturalistic student will also help promote balance and strive to have all groups work together in harmony. Each member of the learning team has a personality type along with a learning style. The traits of each type can round out a group or flatten it out. The thinker is known very well at problem- solving and coming up with ideas. The giver will promote harmony in the group and mediate between members on different ideas and suggestions or conflict. The organizer is a member of the group that will keep the team on task and schedule. The organizer will also keep the group within the limits of the project instead of venturing too far off the topic (Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits, 2007). This essay has discussed three of the learning styles and personalities that make up a successful learning team. Each personality or learning style contributes different aspects to the group. A group composed of members with all the same personality and learning style will limit the team’s potential. To communicate effectively and collaborate in a learning team, the group must look at how the learning styles and personality types will work together. A diverse group will have the most success in coming up with ideas and avenues to approach a topic but stay grounded and on task. References: Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits. (2007). Keys to College Studying: Becoming an Active Thinker, 2e. Retrieved from Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, Sarah Kravits, Gen200-Foundations for General Education and Professional Success website.