Teamwork models and experience in education

Experts note that in the 1990's, teamwork is emerging as the preferred means of organizing and managing businesses, schools, childcare organizations, and other human services programs. Throughout the country, schools and child care agencies are using a variety of team models to improve their programs, deliver effective services, and involve professionals, parents, and youth in decision making. Drawing upon the expertise and insights of professionals who have directly implemented the team approach in education and child care, this timely guide provides a comprehensive view of teamwork in education and child care settings. Chapter authors touch upon both theory and practice as they outline the benefits and limitations of various models and discuss the process of implementing them in many different educational and child care settings. Practical issues are covered in depth. The book identifies the strengths and weaknesses of multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary team models. It offers a careful look at the process of change involved in moving from top-down to shared decision making and from departments to teams. It highlights the strong administrative leadership skills needed in planning, reorganizing, training, monitoring, and supervising school teams. It describes the characteristics of effectively functioning teams. And it pinpoints the different leadership styles administrators must develop in order to effectively delegate and empower team functioning.