DEVELOPING AND ASSESSING TEAMWORK WITH ENHANCED TEAM-BASED LEARNING APPROACH

Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Civil Engineering course reformed its curriculum according to the CDIO principles since 2004. Teamwork is an essential interpersonal skill in the CDIO syllabus to be integrated as an important learning outcome into the engineering curriculum. This important interpersonal skill is usually developed and assessed through project-based learning (PBL) approach. The author combined the approach of PBL and Team-based Learning (TBL) which is an active learning instructional strategy that engage learners as an individual or a group in thinking and problem-solving activities. TBL is an approach substantiated with four essential elements recommended by Michaelsen (2008) to ensure a successful implementation with highly reliable learning outcomes. It is an approach making opportunities in a blended learning environment with group work central to both exposure and enhancement of learner’s ability to apply the course content to their project work. This paper describes the infusion of team-based learning essential elements into the classroom and a mini-project in a blended learning environment to develop and assess teamwork skills. Learning activities are designed for students to apply their course content knowledge that they have learnt in the course. The paper then presents summaries of results for both quantitative and qualitative students’ feedback as well as identifies the implications for enhancing practice in teamwork development and assessment.