Learning Teams

Address how team collaboration adds value to achieving success in the development of academic projects.

it is hoped that students will take into account other factors that would

strengthen the team and provide for a diversity of skills and knowledge

We hope that students regularly will ask themselves (individually and as

teams) such questions as these: What has being a member of this team taught me about being a team leader

or team member at work? What did we do that was particularly effective? What could we have done differently

to improve the process/task? By consistently asking these questions, University of Phoenix graduates will

demonstrate the ability to work effectively as members and leaders of teams—a core competency employers

expect of leaders and managers.

Why Learning Teams?

Since University of Phoenix was founded nearly a quarter-century ago, learning teams have been an essential element of its Teaching/Learning Model. The University’s Founder, Dr. John Sperling, recognized the value of teams in both academia and the workplace long before these benefits became widely known and accepted. Dr. Sperling believed—and subsequent research has confirmed—that learning teams fill several essential functions that are especially beneficial to working adult learners. Learning teams can:

* Create collaborative learning environments in which working adults can share the practical knowledge that comes from their life and work experience.

* Improve the quality of shared projects and assignments.

* Serve as vehicles for the kind of shared reflection through which adult students make sense of and apply new knowledge.

* Provide a sense of community and support that is invaluable in helping working adults cope with the challenge of balancing school with other life demands.

“Team” Competence at Work

There is another equally important function that should be served by learning team participation. More than ever, organizations require their...