Based on your topic preferences, you have been assigned to a particular study group.  As a group, you will first create a Group Contract to develop a shared understanding for successfully completing the collaborative project.

The purpose of a Group Contract is to help you develop team cohesiveness and prevent negative conflict by discussing each group member's expectations; it is also a resource for you in the event conflict does arise.  The contract must be typed and signed by each member of the group.  In addition to making sure that I have a copy, I encourage each of you to keep a copy of the signed contract.  

Your Group Contract should cover the following points:

• How will you work to create a positive group experience and how you will work to avoid the pitfalls of "problem groups" from your past? 


• What goals do you have as a team?


• How will you establish governance, that is, what rules do you want to create for how the team will operate? 


• By what methods will communication be maintained across group members?  For example, how often will you meet?  Where will you meet?  How will you coordinate your schedules efforts across team members?  Consider how you can use technology(ies) to your advantage.


• How do you plan to share the work for and contribute to the assignment, e.g., what will be the responsibilities of various team members?


• How will you deal with conflicts and/or problems that may emerge in your group?  It is important to discuss the group's expectations and the consequences of not participating or being involved in the group process now so that your contract can address this effectively.


• How will you determine if or when I should be consulted if the group is having problems?


• What else?  Include any other points needed to ensure that you start off on the right foot.