Team
SebastienDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
RossDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
CharlesDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
AugustDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
JenniferDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
PeterDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
Age Range
15 & under
Coaches
Ronan Mc NichollDulwich College Suzhou, 江苏 JiangSu, China
Category
Science & Technology > Life Science > Cells
Audience
Ages 12 and up
Language
English
Site Features
Reading Guide / Book Guide
Teacher Resources (Lesson Plans, Worksheets)
Video / Sound
Team Collaboration
It has been a great pleasure to coach this outstanding group of students. Since the day I mentioned the possibility of entering the competition, they immediately formed a bond and assumed their respective roles to produce a high quality multimedia website. After explaining that the goal of this project was to make an innovative site, the group members discussed possible topics and themes. They shared their ideas and agreed to make all decisions democratically. After the majority of the group voted for stem cells, I was extremely impressed with how quickly the entire group accepted this topic and set to work. It was evident, even from this early stage that the students had never experienced a collaborative project of this scale before. They were aware that they would represent the school and were exited about the journey ahead.
The next step involved reviewing all the documentation and establishing a timeline. We decided that it would be beneficial to have a team captain who would assist in collecting and organising ideas within the group. Once again, all the students voted and everyone was happy to proceed. The group then explored the different skills they had to offer and started to decide on overall positions of responsibility. It was most pleasing to observe how the students made Jennifer feel very welcome, being the sole female member of the group.
The team leader, Ross, formed a group e-mail distribution list and he ensured that everyone remained updated. It was pleasing to notice that communication remained polite and respectful throughout the duration of the project. This ensured that the group remained focused on their goal.
Each week the students met to discuss their ideas and progress. This was an enjoyable social experience for the students as they all share a passion for science and technology. All new content was put up for approval and both Glory and I checked that each student was happy with his or her respective role.
Without a doubt, the largest hurdle for the group has been time. They have come up with many superb ideas and now appreciate the time it takes to produce original flash content. Nevertheless they have combined all their ideas and produced a superb site that promises to get bigger and better every year. I explained that websites are always in development and this is version 1.0.
Team Diversity
The group decided on the team name Kasase, as it reflects the diversity within the team. This name reflects the different countries that the students originate from, those being Korea, America, Singapore, Sweden and England. Participating in this competition has provided the students with a superb opportunity to get to know different cultures better and work towards a common goal. They enjoyed chatting about new developments in the technology sector and have now developed friendships that should last for years.
It was very important when forming the group that students could communicate effectively and therefore bring their personal ideas and skills to the design process. I was delighted with how easily they split up the different tasks and how they always showed respect for each other. Having a group leader ensured that everyone could follow the timeline and bring questions or concerns to both Glory and I.
It was very interesting to observe the students debate the ethical aspects of stem cell research. Some members of the group had more conservative views and it was great to encourage the debate within the group, as this was one of the goals of the website. This ensured that students were aware of the issues surrounding this controversial topic and also highlighted the diversity within the group. Nevertheless, the students all worked collaboratively, ensuring no one let the team down.
The team members displayed a wide variety of personality traits, including logical and lateral thinkers, a scientist dedicated to facts, a flash designer, a digital artist and even an open source Linux fan. This broad range of skills made the project interesting and fun for the students, as they got to understand each other better. I was delighted when they explained their desire to begin on next year’s project.
