Developing team skills using a program-embedded team assessment process

Although industry and academia alike place high value on teamwork, how do we actually develop and assess those skills in our students and ourselves? How do we evaluate whether our efforts have had a measurable impact on the students so that we can adjust our approach for maximum benefit? In October 2004, the authors presented initial work on a program-embedded process designed to help students (1) learn critical teambuilding skills, (2) identify their strengths and weaknesses when working in teams, and (3) improve their team skills. The process involves data collection, exit interviews, and student feedback in five program-specific courses taken over three semesters and with two different faculty. Data has been collected on 100 students to provide evidence of student development in the three areas indicated. Although data analysis did not always indicate student development, the exit interviews conducted at the end of the three semester sequence of courses consistently revealed improved skill. This paper summarizes the program-embedded process and provides results based on data collected from Spring 2003 through Spring 2007.