Students Learn the Importance of Teamwork

The Recreation and Leisure Administration Program at York College is designed to provide students with the necessary background to pursue a variety of professional careers within and related to the field. In the program’s Leadership and Group Dynamics class, recreation and leisure majors, as well as other majors such as public relations, criminal justice, nursing, education and business, learn the importance of teamwork to further their educational and professional growth. 

“The students participate in various teamwork initiatives throughout the semester,” said Julie Saville, PhD, Recreation and Leisure Program coordinator.

During one initiative, students are given the challenge of keeping as many balloons in the air as possible. 

“The students are asked to develop a strategy to accomplish the task,” said Saville, who is teaching Leadership and Group Dynamics this fall.  “They try their first strategy while I walk around and add more balloons, one at a time. Once one balloon hits the ground, they stop, evaluate their strategy and create a new one.”

According to Saville, this initiative focuses on the development of teamwork through communication, problem solving and decision-making. It also has a leadership component because although they don't have a leader at the beginning of the initiative, leaders emerge as it progresses.  

“At the end of the challenge, the class discusses what they learned and how it applies to the real world and their future careers,” she added.