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[[CategoryImage:Communication]] [[:Category:CommunicationTeampedia_-_Tower_Building.JPG| Communication]] 200px|[[Category:Collaboration]] [[:Category:Collaborationthumbnail| Collaboration]] |[[Category:Team Strategy]] [[:Category:Team Strategyright| Team StrategyParticipants work to build the tallest free-standing tower they can.]]

[[Category:Medium]][[:Category:Medium| Medium]]

For this activity you need some building supplies such as:

* a bag of candy or another similar prize with enough for everyone (alternatively you can just use "bragging rights " as the prize)

Before the activity, you need to make a packet of supplies for each group. You should aim for at least 3 Divide your class into groups with about of 4 people in each group-5. If you have less than 12 people, this is probably not the right activity for you. The key here is to divide the supplies unevenly, but put them in a closed bag or box, so that participants can't see that each group is getting a different set of supplies. Each group should have a a lot of one supply , and only some of each of the othersother supplies.

Packet #1 -

'''Big picture: ''' The participants work to build the tallest free-standing tower they can with the supplies given.

Begin by randomly dividing participants into small groups and organizing the groups in different areas of the room. Ask for a representative from each group to come to a separate space (center of the room or a separate room) to receive instructions and materials. Pass out one bag of supplies to each grouprepresentative.

You should be careful to then introduce it without giving too much context. Again the key here is that each group will have a different set of supplies but representatives to the facilitators should make sure this activity by simply saying "This is not immediately obviousan activity to work on communication and collaboration, and once it becomes more obvious, the facilitators should neither discourage or encourage collaboration and sharing. The vast majority of participants when divided up goal is to build the tallest free standing tower you can with the supplies in groups, will assume they they should be competing against the other groups but you should not specifically say it is a competitionbags. You There will address this in be prizes (or bragging rights) for the debrief questions based on the groups choice to collaborate or competewinners."

Answer any questions at this point, and then announce that Some have added the representatives will return "option" to destroy a tower in their materials. One group may receive the groupsability to destroy a tower, and once while another groups receives the ability to protect their tower. The group may or may not announce that they returnhave received such privilege, the facilitators will but it's up to their discretion if they want to use this or not answer any questions.

[The facilitators You should not answer any be careful to introduce the activity without giving too much context or answering too many questions so . Again the key here is that each group will have a different set of supplies but the groups are forced to figure out how to build their tower on their ownfacilitators should make sure this is not immediately obvious. If the groups figure out they need to collaborateOnce it becomes more obvious, the facilitators should neither encourage or discourage them (this or encourage collaboration and sharing. The vast majority of participants when divided into groups, will come up assume they they should be competing against the other groups but you should not specifically say it is a competition. You will address this in the debrief)questions based on the groups' choice to collaborate or compete.]

Some groups will spend time strategizing, others will just dive right Answer questions at this point. Try to be very general inanswering questions from the representatives. Some If they have specific process questions, it may start be helpful to noticesay something like, they don't "you have much tape, or that received all the other groups instructions I can give you. You and your group will have more popsicle sticksto figure out the rest".

* You can ask for Then announce that the representatives to come will return to the center of the room groups, and report to the other representatives one thing once they return, the facilitators will not answer any more questions. The facilitators should not answer any questions so that the groups are doing well and one challenge forced to figure out how they are havingwant to build on their own. If the groups decide they want to collaborate, the facilitators should neither encourage or discourage them (this will come up in the debrief). * You can have everyone form a circle and walk around and see other people's progress so far

It is important to try to deflect... so if they ask, "How come Announce that they have so much more tape?" you might say "Sorry, I can't really answer any questions at this point~20 min to build, but it looks like you are making good progressand let the building begin."

 Some groups will spend time coming up with a detailed strategy, others will just dive right in. Some may start to notice that they don't have much tape, or that the other groups have more popsicle sticks.  After a few minutes of building you have a few choices.* You can ask for representatives to come to the center of the room and report to the other reps one thing they are doing well and one challenge they are having.* You can have everyone stop building for a moment and walk around and see other teams' progress so far  Again, the facilitators should not answer any questions, and should not encourage or discourage collaboration!It is important to try to deflect... so if they ask, "How come they have so much more tape?" you might say "Sorry, I can't really answer any questions at this point, but it looks like you are making good progress."  As they start to see that other groups have different supplies, some will respond by questioning, some will try to beg, barter, or steal supplies, and some will just resign themselves to the fact that its it's not fair, and they will continue to focus on working with what they have.Make notes of it all, and save it for the debrief.

Because of the unequal distribution of supplies, in order to build the tallest tower possible, the groups really have to all merge and share supplies. But becuase because you divided them into groups, and that implies competition to most people, very few participants will try to suggest that the groups collaborate or share supplies. Even if someone in the group suggests it, it is not likely that everyone will agree to it.

 * Raise your hand if you helped built build a tower!

* What would have been possible if you had decided to share resources with the whole group?

And then to make this the issues really impactfulhit home, you need to tie it back to collaboration and communication on your specific team or group: