A Team Health Self-Assessment Tool and Workshop for Engineering Student Teams

Abstract

The ability to work in teams is an important learning outcome for graduating engineering students. There are, however, limited intentional and structured teaching opportunities through which engineering faculty can instruct students on effective team behaviours.
In this paper, we describe a workshop in which student teams self-assess and create a plan to improve their team processes. Students first complete individual surveys, reflecting on their perceptions of the effectiveness of their teams. Individual responses are then aggregated at the team level, with each team receiving summary team scores. A structured in-class activity provides teams with an opportunity to reflect on effective and ineffective team processes, share strategies and best practices with other teams, and develop plans for improvement.
Multiple deliveries of the module in various engineering programs, including in a capstone design course, have shown that the module is an effective tool for teams to self-assess and self-correct.