Developing teamwork through experiential learning
Courtney S. Ferguson, Shade K. Little, Marilyn K. McClelland · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2000
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of various Experiential Learning activities in the development of teamwork for students studying Computer Information Systems (CIS) who work in teams to complete CIS projects or case studies. Empirical evidence was obtained from students after participation in Ropes Courses. Perceptions of satisfaction of the Ropes Courses were obtained from a survey on the extent participation helped build self-esteem, confidence, character, trust in others; and stimulated teamwork and cooperation with others. This was an exploratory study that presented descriptive statistics that showed a high extent of benefit from Ropes courses. In conclusion, this study is a springboard for further research to establish a conceptual model on CIS teamwork for students in a CIS curriculum who have participated in Ropes courses versus those who have not had similar team building experiences. The findings can also help firms who want to accelerate their teamwork training to enable their professionals to perform better and faster in teams by giving them a Ropes course experience.