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Use Strong Flexible Thinking in Group Work: Checklist (Bb)

Tags

^21st Century Skills All Ages Strategy

Skills

Flexible Thinking Social Awareness

Use Strong Flexible Thinking in Group Work: Checklist (Bb)

If your student has strong flexible thinking and you want them to take a leadership role in group work

Using Your Strong Flexible Thinking In Group Work

  1. Strong flexible thinking is a huge asset when it comes to group work, as this skill can help you contribute creative ideas and promote successful collaboration
  2. Suggest starting projects with brainstorming. This provides you an opportunity to share your creative ideas as well as engage all group members. Remember, in good brainstorming, there's no such thing as a bad idea.
  3. If your project goes off course or the team "gets stuck", step back and try to offer solutions about how you can adapt your plans. Offer help to your teammates with their work, but be careful not to make them feel like you are doing it for them or overstepping your role.
  4. If there are disagreements, help facilitate by presenting the differing viewpoints and suggesting resolutions.
  5. Think your ideas aloud. This will give others an opportunity to learn from you and understand the basis of your suggestions. This will be particularly valuable when working with peers who think they have "the answer" but their flexible thinking might not be that strong.
  6. Encourage groupmates to think their ideas aloud. It might provide the opportunity to build on their ideas that are not fully formed and which others might otherwise dismiss.

What To Keep In Mind

Flexible thinking is a key strength for creative problem solving and group collaboration. It's often hard to know who has good flexible thinking, because it is very different from just getting good grades. Flexible thinkers tend to do their best in project work so be confident and don't feel like you need to defer to a classmate who thinks he or she has the "right" answer. Keep your strength in mind while brainstorming and be sensitive to the participation of all members of the group.