We¡¯re excited to release our newest game,
Ducks Amok (named by a Synthesis student during Game Design Camp). It¡¯s a game that works both types of thinking: you and your team will need to coordinate short-term plans, then switch your brains to discuss long-term strategy between rounds. But first, you need to learn the game. Because life¡¯s problems don¡¯t come with complete instructions. And neither do our games.
Be sure to check out the
Teams Mission Brief for more details.
Communication in Game Sessions
Tom's % of time speaking average in each game session
Reflection for Tom: What's the most effective way to share information with your team?
|
You contribute 0% of your teams¡¯ actions.
What contribution should each player make to the team?
|
|
You use 72% of your available AP.
How are you using your AP to contribute to the team goals?
|
|
If you notice that some of your teamwork data is missing or showing at 0%, it is because you have not attended a recent session featuring this game.
|
You¡¯ve been around Synthesis Teams long enough to know that good
communication means more than just talking to your teammates.
It¡¯s about being thoughtful in the
way we communicate: using
teammates¡¯ names, being clear and specific, and asking clarifying
questions. It¡¯s about speaking up
and responding to others.
This month, we¡¯ll take a closer look at these important aspects of
teamwork as we examine your
productive communication skills.
Tom, here's what we observed about your teamwork skills during recent game sessions: One thing you did really well was using polite and supportive phrases like ¡°Thank you¡± and ¡°Thank you very much,¡± which helped create a positive and friendly team atmosphere. Another great thing we saw was your willingness to engage and recognize teammates' efforts with affirming statements such as ¡°Yay!¡± This enthusiasm can boost team morale. A next step could be to work on providing clearer and more detailed feedback during discussions. For example, instead of repeating reactions or issuing brief exclamations, focus on engaging more directly by asking questions like, "What should we do next?" or sharing specific thoughts on strategies to foster a more constructive team dialogue. Why does this matter? Effective communication enhances team understanding and coordination, making every member's contribution valuable and reinforcing teamwork.
Observations based on your participation in game sessions in 3 of the past 4 weeks
On your journey to make any team you join better, you'll practice how to effectively communicate with everyone. Our Discussion sessions are carefully designed to provide opportunities for you to practice these critical communication skills in various ways.
Last week's theme was
"Black Swan Events." When we talk about risk, it¡¯s generally in terms of likelihood. However, that¡¯s not always the best lens. A black swan event is a rare, unexpected event, but with a huge impact. It seems highly unlikely beforehand but seems obvious in hindsight. Last week, we introduced you to ¡°black swan events¡± in the first half, and in the second half, we asked you to wrestle with a real one: the YR4 asteroid with a fluctuating risk of hitting Earth in 2032.
Communication in Discussions Sessions
Speaking % in Tom's Discussion session last week.
Reflection for Tom: How can you contribute to balanced communication with your team in Discussions?
Tom, here¡¯s what we noticed about your communication during last week¡¯s Discussion session: One thing you did especially well was engaging actively and sharing your thoughts, like when you explained, "Well, if you take your extra time to look up, then... your neighbor won't steal it." This shows your ability to contribute meaningfully to the discussion. Another great thing we saw was your use of polite acknowledgments, such as saying "Thank you so much," which shows respect and kindness to your teammates. To keep building your skills, you might try inviting your teammates to share more of their ideas by asking them questions, which can help make the conversation even more inclusive and interesting for everyone. Keep up the great work!
Anyone who's on the path toward becoming a Supercollaborator is able to keep improving their skills and making course corrections. We look forward to seeing you at future sessions, and we'll continue giving you feedback on your teamwork and communication skills.
If your parent or guardian has any questions or comments about this email, tell them they can
fill out this 1-minute survey
to help us keep on improving our session feedback.
To the stars (and Mars),
Josh Dahn, cofounder
