Effective teamwork is a vital skill for students to master as they move forward in their lives and careers! If you choose to have your students play a simulation in teams, it can enrich their learning experience and provide an excellent opportunity to practice collaborating well with others.
When running their simulated business as a member of a team, students must learn to communicate clearly, listen well, and capitalize on the strengths of each teammate in order to succeed.
Identifying and making the most of each other’s unique capabilities is essential to building an effective team, and the variety of decision areas and challenges involved in a simulation provides an ideal platform for students to practice those skills.
The team environment also encourages thinking outside the box and exposes students to perspectives they may have otherwise overlooked, as Kerri Shields, professor at Centennial College and user of our simulation BizCafe, notes:
This exposure to the opinions and approaches of others helps students to reflect on their own assumptions and instincts and be prepared to intelligently defend their reasoning for their choices.
Sarah Schmitz bio:
Sarah has been with Interpretive since 2014, shortly after graduating from James Madison University with a degree in communications and writing. Her primary role is in the support department as a customer relationship specialist, where she works closely with faculty to help the simulation experience run smoothly in their courses. Additionally, she also enjoys the opportunity to apply her writing and editorial skills in different areas at Interpretive, including blog posts, marketing materials, video scripts, and more. A Virginia native turned Midwesterner, Sarah currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband.
