Team Triangle Count

Clif Kussmaul, Muhlenberg College, kussmaul at muhlenberg.edu
adapted from Carol Wellington, Shippensburg Univ

Students work in teams to count the number of triangles in a complex figure, and the experience is used to prompt discussion of a variety of team issues.

1. Instructor assigns students to teams of 3-5.
2. Instructor tells teams to count the number of triangles in a complex figure.
3. Teams work for 5-10 minutes, instructor circulates to see what is happening.
4. Instructor tells teams to stop counting and consider the following questions:
   • Who did what on the team? How did you choose these roles?
   • What strategy(s) did your team consider?
   • How did you choose the strategy(s) you implemented?
5. Teams briefly report their answers to the entire class.
6. Instructor leads additional discussion if time and interest permit.

• Strengths
  • duration of activity is flexible, depending on content, student interest, etc.
  • requires little preparation
• Weaknesses
  • focuses on short-term rather than long-term team issues
• Variants
  • use other tasks
  • follow with a reflective writing assignment