Teamwork Skills for Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Teamwork is frequently assigned to undergraduates: it has many learning benefits to students, including improved comprehension of content, and the development of transferable interpersonal, communication, and project management skills. Educators often assume students will transfer these skills to future academic and professional contexts. However, students are rarely given the explicit instruction in teamwork skills.

The Rotman Commerce Centre for Professional Skills’ “Teamwork Skills for Undergraduate Students” course offers much needed training for students in developing their teamwork skills for course projects. The course is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 is aimed at first- or second-year undergraduates with limited teamwork experience. Part 2 is aimed at more experienced undergraduate teams. Each part contains 4 flexible, adaptable learning modules that explore different aspects of teamwork skills in an undergraduate context, using case scenarios, examples, and branching scenarios based on commonly encountered issues. The course is designed to be worked through in an asynchronous format (in conjunction with synchronous or in-class activities, if desired), while students are concurrently working on a course project in teams. Concrete strategies and tools, like a team skills audit and team contract, are explained and connected to the students’ progression through the course and their team projects.

Part 1 introduces the fundamental principles and strategies for effective teamwork and develops students’ skills in the areas of building team cohesion, project management, team communication, and working through conflict. Students will: apply strategies for building team cohesion; approach differences with teammates with curiosity and self-awareness; identify their own and their team members’ strengths by completing a team skills audit; manage team projects effectively by setting ground rules, choosing group roles, completing a team contract, and creating a work plan; apply strategies to avoid, mitigate, or resolve team conflicts; reflect on their own needs and those of their teammates; and, apply strategies to accommodate each other’s needs.

Part 2 addresses these topics in more detail, and further develops students’ skills around team communication and conflict, and giving and receiving feedback. In Part 2, students will: complete a team SWOT; challenge preconceived ideas of leadership; manage team projects effectively using project management tools; understand how teammates can differ in communication styles; hold effective meetings; review strategies for conversation management and decision-making as a team; reflect on strategies to manage emotions during conflict; review strategies for addressing, resolving, and moving forward from conflict; and, give and receive feedback from teammates effectively to promote individual growth and improve team performance.