19/01/15

Team building, cooperation and group dynamic processes.

Preperation post:

hello my foreign friends!
On monday 19/1 we are going to meet outside spicheren at 9.15 and do some fun team-building excersises and stuff!!
We are going to “grønnsletta” a park not far from spicheren.

things and stuff you need to pack:
rope
warm clothes
food (we are going to make a campfire)
something to drink, non-alcoholic beverages only.
something to place your buttocks on when we are lunching.
good mood and positivity!!

Activities: After meeting outside Spicheren with the students we were split into 4 groups of both International and Norwegian students. Each group was given equipment for the tasks, including: a tarp, a large piece of wood and some small pieces of wood. Before walking to Jegersberg we were given our first team building exercise: we were to choose one person per group to act as though they had broken a leg and could walk – in the group we had to carry the person to the ‘grønnsletta’ park using what equipment we had. This was made into a competition with the other groups so that we were motivated to do the task as quick as possible.

When we arrived in the area, the second exercise was for everyone in the group to be blind folded apart from one who would act as the ‘guide’, the role of the guide was to lead all other members of the team around a chosen course whilst holding onto the large piece of wood. The course involved many obstacles such as: going under and over trees, walking on slippery areas and up and down hill areas. This was a good way to encourage the team to work together and for the guide to use good leadership skills so that everyone was safe.

The third activity: Again using the equipment, we were to find suitable areas around the park to build emergency shelters. This was a great activity as i have never done this before, we were able to use our initiative to figure out the best way of using the rope and wood that we had and the more experienced students helped gave us feedback on what they would do differently.

Activity four: An arrangement of ropes were attached between 2 trees for each group, creating a ‘spiders web’, the aim of the task was to get each member of the team through a separate hole in the ropes without touching them. For this task we had to pick members of the team up and help each other to get through the gaps.

The final task was to start a fire. In each group, the members who had never started a fire before were the only ones who could use their hands. All other members were to just give instruction/help to those using their hands. I finally started my first fire! The aim was to start the fire under a piece of rope and build it up big enough so that the rope would burn. We then used the fires to have lunch before leaving the area and ending the day.

Evaluatuation:

All tasks were completed in a competitive way but with the help of those who were more experienced, and were followed up with feedback on how they could be improved. This was very helpful for me as i had never done some of these things before and this was a more beneficial way of learning new skills rather than someone just showing me how to do them. The fact that all tasks required effective communication and team building skills was really good and it was important that everyone worked together. Although all the chosen activities were really fun, they were all informative and the skills i learnt today will be really helpful when i am on future trips.