Team Learning
The Center for Team Learning was founded in 1996 with a generous donation from the General Electric Fund to support business school faculty engaged in collaborative learning. In pursuit of this goal, the Center develops classroom materials and methods, conducts research on the effectiveness of collaborative learning approaches, and offers training and advice to faculty.
The Team Learning Assistant
Team Learning Assistant (TLA) is a web application developed by the Center for Team Learning at Boston University School of Management in partnership with Roundbox Global. It has been widely used across BU’s School of Management for several years, and by more than 25,000 students at 75 universities and colleges throughout the US and Canada.
TLA “Six Steps” can be integrated into any course to provide teams with a path for learning. It was designed to maximize students’ team learning experiences and save faculty and students valuable time using its concise six-step approach to team learning. Students are given the responsibility and tools to manage their own teams; technology gives team members “red alerts,” so they can stay ahead of problems and gives instructors a “heads up” regarding each team and each team member’s performance. Data provides a clear basis for assigning team and individual grades, and assessing educational outcomes.
TLA: Six Steps in the Cycle of Learning
- Team Introduction
- Team Contracting
- Team Management
- Peer Feedback
- After Action Review
- Peer Evaluation
For a compendium of research articles, teaching materials, example syllabi, and links on collaborative learning, go to The Team Learning Knowledge Base. Or read the report on the June 2001 Conference on Advances in Team Learning.
