Collaborative Team Learning in Information Systems: A Pedagogy for Developing Team Skills and High Performance

Business schools must learn how to deliver graduates who are capable team players, particularly in the field of information systems where IS personnel are frequently cited as lacking in interpersonal and teams skills, and where information technology work is increasingly structured around team-based projects. We report here on the effectiveness of a collaborative pedagogical approach called team learning, which was used in a database management systems course. The team learning methodology requires students and their teammates to bear sole responsibility for learning in teams, with the professor acting as a “Guide on the Side” (16). Using an experimental design, this study demonstrates that teams consistently outperformed individuals, which critical team skills improved over time, and that important team skills were positively associated with team performance.