The ETD initiative at Georgia Tech is intended to help students gain the unique skills necessary to work in teams successfully. Below you will find a list of resources to support your team projects
The Managing Team Conflict Section offers suggestions and resources for students facing difficulties in their team projects. Next, Resources for Teams lists useful links and ideas for making your group project a success. Finally, the Resources for Student Success lists campus programs and initiatives to assist students that wish to excel in their group projects.
I. Managing Team Conflict
Learn About Best Practices
Talk to Your Instructor
If your team is struggling with conflict, you may want to reach out to your instructor via email or during their office hours.
Suggestions for Facilitating a Productive Conversation with your Instructor
- Be specific. Don’t simply complain that a team member is lazy; explain instances of this person’s tardiness or inability to complete tasks on specific occasions and with evidence.
- Have a plan. Share your team’s plan to cope with setbacks.
Courtesy to Team Members
One of the biggest lessons the ETD initiative teaches is how to recognize and value diverse strengths. For your team projects, use your Clifton Strengths to discuss what each member of your team needs in order to preform well. Research shows that successful projects are the result of a diversity of perspectives. The unique strengths possessed by your teammates are the key to your success. These strengths along with the team’s knowledge and skills will enable you to successfully complete the team’s project.
Suggestions to Create a Positive Team Environment
- Value all Voices. Make sure all team members feel that their input is heard and valued. You may want to set a time during the team meeting for each team member (one-by-one) to offer their thoughts to the team.
- Punctuality. It is a sign of respect to attend meetings on time and prepared.
- Write a Contract. In large groups, tasks and responsibilities can get muddied. We recommend that teams write down and approve a contract of expectations for every project. Sample Team Contract.
- Communicate Regularly. Group projects are a negotiation, so make sure that your group has a way to easily ask questions, offer suggestions, and share work.
II. Resources for Teams
Naugle CommLab (Communication Center)
Georgia Tech’s Naugle CommLab is located in Clough Commons, Suite 447. It is an excellent resource for all students (undergraduate or graduate) who want help with a communication-related project, from their multimodal assignments for English 1101 and English 1102 to graduate school applications, from engineering and science reports to oral presentations, from storyboards for videos to poster designs, from grant proposals to job cover letters and resumes.
- What kind of help is available? The trained professional and peer tutors in the CommLab help all students with their written, oral, visual, electronic, and nonverbal communication in every discipline.
- What you can expect? You can visit the center at any stage of the process for any project in any discipline. The knowledgeable and friendly professional and peer tutors are available to help you develop and revise your projects.
- What are examples of the available help? Have a B+ on a communication project that you really want to be an A? Get some help in the CommLab. Need help getting your team to work more effectively? Get some help in the CommLab. Have an important oral presentation? Get some help in the CommLab. Struggling with writing or speaking or reading? Get some help in the CommLab. Making a film or writing a novel? Get some help in the CommLab with the communication elements of ANY project.
- What’s not available? The tutors are not available to “fix” your projects. Please do not expect tutors to proofread or edit–although tutors will be happy to help you develop self-editing strategies.
- What about ESL/EFL support? The staff includes professional tutors specially trained to assist non-native speakers.
- How do you make an appointment? For information on making an appointment please visit this website. If you need assistance with the appointment system, you can call 404-385-3612 or stop by the center.
- What about cost and privacy? All services are free and confidential.
Spaces for Meetings
There are a number of places to meet with teams on Georgia Tech’s campus. If your group is struggling to find a space, try out some of these locations:
- Naugle Comm Lab (Reserve a Room)
- Main Library (Not Reserveable)
- Lewis H. Beck Multipurpose Room (Reserve a Room)
- Student Center (Not Reserveable)
- Clough Common Area (Reserve a Room)
Technological Issues
Contact the Office of Information Technology for issues such as internet connectivity, changing your password, finding an AV classroom on campus, getting help with AV equipment, reserving a loaner laptop, setting up printing options on campus.
III. Resources for Student Success
Dean of Students and Counseling Center
Attending college can be a stressful time; don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re feeling overly anxious, stressed, or depressed. Georgia Tech has two main ways to seek support: the Office of the Dean of Students and the Counseling Center. Both units work closely together to support Georgia Tech students. You can seek support by using the contact information below.
Office of the Dean of Students
Charles A. Smithgall Jr Student Services Building (also known as the Flag Building), Suite 210
(404) 894-6367
Counseling Center
Charles A. Smithgall Jr Student Services Building (also known as the Flag Building), Suite 328
404-894-2575 (including 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to a counselor on call).
Health and Well-Being
Office of Disability Services
Georgia Tech supports students through the Office of Disability Services. Any student who may require an accommodation for a documented disability should inform their instructor privately during the first week of class or as soon as you become aware of your disability. Anyone who anticipates difficulties with the content or format of the course due to a documented disability should arrange a meeting so we can create a workable plan for your success in this course.
The Office of Disability Services serves any Georgia Tech student who has a documented, qualifying disability. Official documentation of the disability is required to determine eligibility for accommodations or adaptations. Please make sure your instructor receives a Faculty Accommodation Letter form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you need during the first week of class.
- Visit: Smithgall Student Services Bldg, Suite 210 on 353 Ferst Drive
- Email: adapts@vpss.gatech.edu.
- Call: 404-894-2563 (V); 404-894-1664 (TDD); 404-894-9928 (fax)
Center for Academic Success
The Center for Academic Success is a unit within the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Conveniently located on the second floor of the G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Suite 283, the center also manages the Tutoring Reception Desk in Suite 273. The center’s programs and services include 1-to-1 Tutoring and Peer-Led Undergraduate Study (PLUS) sessions. To learn more or to make an appointment for any of these services visit our website or call (404) 894-1945.
- 1-to-1 Tutoring is a free, appointment-based, CRLA Certified, tutoring program offered to all Georgia Tech undergraduate students by the Center for Academic Success.
- Peer-Led Undergraduate Study (PLUS) sessions provide opportunities for students enrolled in traditionally challenging courses to work together to review course content, develop learning and study strategies, and prepare for exams. These voluntary sessions are offered several times each week and are facilitated by peer leaders (PLUS leaders) who have successfully completed the course in a previous semester. PLUS leaders meet with Center staff and the instructor and attend the course each day with the students.
Institute Diversity
Institute Diversity ensures Tech recruits, develops, retains and engages a diverse team of students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, interest and talents. We ensure that Tech’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in equal opportunity and non-discrimination practices. We ensure Tech’s compliance with all federal and state laws regarding Equal Opportunity, Title IX, and The Americans with Disabilities Act. We oversee the six Georgia Tech ADVANCE Professorships, which enhance gender diversity in the faculty. We also direct the Center for the Study of Women, Science, and Technology. Our office addresses issues of student diversity and inclusion with the OMED: Education Services and the Office of Hispanic Initiatives, for women and historically underserved and underrepresented populations.
Center for Career Discovery and Development
The Center for Career Discovery and Development, or ‘C2D2,’ provides career education, resources, and experiential opportunities to Georgia Tech students across all majors so that they are positioned to launch and sustain satisfying and successful careers that make a meaningful contribution to society.
In collaboration with campus and global community partners, we aim to support a broad spectrum of career directions, including: employment in private, public, and non-profit sectors; pursuit of graduate studies, professional school, and prestigious fellowships; entrepreneurship and innovation; research; and service activities.