Biology labs often make use of student teams. However, some students resist working in teams, often based on poor experiences. Although instructors sometimes struggle with student teams, effective teams in biology labs are achievable. We increased student learning and satisfaction when working in research teams by (1) including in the syllabus a teamwork learning objective “to practice effective teamwork and team management, including modeling behaviors of inclusion and ethics, and using leadership skills to foster problem solving, team communication, conflict management, consensus building, and idea generation”; and (2) designing and implementing exercises that teach students the value of working in a team and how to be part of an effective student team (e.g., developing shared expectations, creating norms of behavior and team culture, and building awareness of the importance of team conflict and likely student responses to such conflict). We also used individual and team reflections on team functioning, following formal online team assessment. This article presents details about our curricular innovations as well as pretest and posttest data demonstrating student attitudes and beliefs regarding teamwork. We experienced improved student satisfaction and success in introductory biology lab courses, as well as reduced instructor guesswork and stress regarding student teams.
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January 2020
Research Article|
January 01 2020
Strategies to Promote Effective Student Research Teams in Undergraduate Biology Labs
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil,
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil
KENDRA SPENCE CHERUVELIL is a Professor in the Lyman Briggs College and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; e-mail: [email protected]
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Angela De Palma-Dow,
Angela De Palma-Dow
During this project, ANGELA DE PALMA-DOW was a graduate student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University. She is currently Invasive Species Coordinator for the Water Resources Department, County of Lake, Lakeport, CA 95453.
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Karl A. Smith
Karl A. Smith
KARL A. SMITH is Cooperative Learning Professor, School of Engineering Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; and Morse-Alumni Distinguished University Teaching Professor and Professor Emeritus of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
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The American Biology Teacher (2020) 82 (1): 18–27.
Citation
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, Angela De Palma-Dow, Karl A. Smith; Strategies to Promote Effective Student Research Teams in Undergraduate Biology Labs. The American Biology Teacher 1 January 2020; 82 (1): 18–27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2020.82.1.18
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