Unlocking Group Potential to Improve Schools

How great groups make great schools

This field book shows educators how to develop group culture, enhance facilitators€ skills, and optimize the group€s most precious resource€"its members. The authors describe how to form working committees, task forces, grade-level, and department teams, and faculties that are more effective and better equipped to resolve complex issues around student learning. Specific topics include:

• Understanding eight principles that underlie effective groups
• Learning the five standards for effective meetings
• Setting clear goals and roles
• Practicing new ways of talking for improved collaboration
• Examining perceptions and mental models
• Enhancing energy sources
• Working with conflict
• Developing basic facilitation skills