The goal of this project was to equip students working on team projects with skills and tools to be more collaborative by learning how to have tough conversations and manage conflicting ideas or priorities.
We created four videos for students to watch covering topics like assuming positive intent, providing constructive feedback, and managing conflicting ideas. We conducted a pre/post assessment and reflection to gather feedback on the intervention videos and students’ confidence in and preparation for conflict resolution within a team. Students then used a new 360-degree Feedback Tool to provide anonymized comments to peers and private comments to instructors about their group project experiences.
Engagement with videos varied; 5-10% of study subjects viewed the four content videos with an average 70% completion rate. A small sample (n=13) of students completed the reflection and viewed the videos.
While data analysis is still underway, preliminary results show:
• Increases in students’ view that working collaboratively on teams is valuable and has been a positive experience in these courses
• Increases were observed in students’ reported motivation to address concerns with the team as soon as they arise along with feeling prepared to engage in challenging conversations with the team.
The TTL Initiative helps faculty create curriculum or educational experiences that fundamentally change the way a student thinks, perceives situations and problems, or challenges them to operate outside of their area of comfort.