Collaboration is essential for solving complex, real-world problems. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, the ability to work well in a team is becoming one of the most sought-after skills by employers. Most students have opportunities to work in groups, but many have not learned the theory behind group work or best practices for making collaboration work. In this course, you will learn, apply, and reflect on key collaborative theories and practices. For example: What aspects of teams are most important? What problems do teams most commonly face and how can those problems be minimized? How can productive conflict increase creativity and productivity, and how can destructive conflict be reduced?
We will begin by discussing why collaboration is so important and how to leverage the potential benefits of teamwork. You will learn techniques for improving team dynamics, such as creating and using a team charter, identifying and addressing conflict, and providing constructive feedback. You will also learn some of the fundamentals of design thinking as a tool for collaborative problem-solving. Students will have the opportunity to apply the course content by working in small groups to address a real-world problem of their choosing. Throughout the process, you will be asked to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses in team settings and use feedback from your peers to improve your collaborative skills.
This course has been specifically designed for first- and second-year students in Knowledge Integration (KI) for the Fall 2021 term, and provides a weekly in-person experience. We will meet twice per week – once during a synchronous online session (all students) and once in person in the KI studio (with 1A and 2A students meeting at separate times). You should only take this course if you are able to commit to attending the live and in-person sessions on a regular basis. Any KI students who are interested in this course but unable to attend are are welcome to contact the instructor for copies of course materials.
most recent syllabus available from the Department of Knowledge Integration upon request
INTEG 275 course description (in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar)