1. Robert W. Lingard California State University, Northridge
Teaching and Assessing Teamwork Skills in Engineering and Computer Science
Robert W. Lingard
California State University, Northridge
July 11, 2009

2. Overview The Problem Assessment Driven Teaching
Assessing Teamwork Skills
Techniques for Teaching Teamwork
Recent Results
Conclusions
July 11, 2009

3. The Problem
Although teamwork skills are considered important for Engineering and Computer Science graduates,
ABET requires they be taught
Industry demands that graduates have them
Programs often do not adequately address the teaching of them
Little specific instruction is given
Skills are typically not evaluated
July 11, 2009

4. Assessment Driven Teaching
What should be taught and how should it be taught?
First, we need to define what we mean by teamwork, i.e., develop a specific set of performance criteria.
Then, if we assess how students perform against the criteria we can determine what needs to be taught
July 11, 2009

5. Assessment Driven Teaching (Cont’d)
Different performance deficiencies will suggest different approaches to improve the teaching of teamwork skills.
July 11, 2009

6. Teamwork Performance Criteria
Attend (nearly all) team meetings
Arrive on time for (nearly all) team meetings
Communicate clearly with other team members
Share knowledge with others
Introduce new ideas
Openly express opinions
July 11, 2009

7. Teamwork Performance Criteria (Cont’d)
Consider suggestions from others
Adopt suggestions from others
Try to understand what others say
Provide help to other team members
Ask for help form other team members
Complete assignments on time
July 11, 2009

8. Teamwork Performance Criteria (Cont’d)
Complete assignments with acceptable quality
Do research and gather information
Do a fair share of the work
Be committed to team goals
Show respect for others
Distinguish between the important and the trivial
July 11, 2009

9. Assessing Teamwork Skills
Independent observation
Evaluating the evidence of individual team member contributions
Conduct peer reviews
July 11, 2009

10. Independent Observation
July 11, 2009

11. Evaluating Individual Team Member Contributions
July 11, 2009

12. Peer Evaluations
July 11, 2009

13. Techniques for Teaching Teamwork
Specific Instruction on the Group Process and Group Roles
“Think, Pair, Share”
Oral Team Presentations
Meeting Reports
Individual Reflection
Understanding Individual Differences
July 11, 2009

14. Group Process and Group Roles Instruction
July 11, 2009

15. “Think, Pair, Share”
July 11, 2009

16. Meeting Reports
July 11, 2009

17. Individual Reflection
July 11, 2009

18. Understanding Individual Differences
July 11, 2009

19. The Kolbe Concept®
It identifies the conative instincts that drive the way one operates, e.g., the way one approaches problem solving.
It focuses on strengths and provides insight on how to help people be more productive and effective
It is universal, unbiased, and an individual’s Kolbe index tends to remain the same over time
July 11, 2009

20. The Kolbe Instinctive Talents
Fact Finder
Collects data, asks questions, probes
Follow Thru
Makes schedules, plans ahead
Quick Start
Innovates, takes risks, improvises
Implementor
Builds and constructs, creates models
July 11, 2009

21. Sample “Kolbe” Results
July 11, 2009

22. Team Presentations
July 11, 2009

23. Recent Results
July 11, 2009

24. Conclusions
July 11, 2009

25. Conclusions
July 11, 2009