Best for: New teams or groups beginning a collaborative project.
Before asking students to work together, give them an opportunity to understand how each person approaches teamwork.
Students individually complete the Before We Begin tool, reflecting on:
what they naturally bring to a team
how they tend to interact with others
their current stress level and workload
how they prefer to receive feedback
how they work best
how they prefer to be recognized
what helps when they feel overwhelmed
Then invite teammates to share what they are comfortable sharing.
Ask teams:
What did you learn that could help you work better together?
Teams can use what they learn to inform roles, communication expectations, and team agreements.
Reflect:
What do you know about your teammates now that could change how you work together?