Designing a web tool to support teamwork awareness and reflection: Evaluation of two trial cycles

Abstract

Teamwork is an important 21st century competency to be nurtured in students. In this study, we describe the first two trial cycles of a web tool “My Groupwork Buddy” that is designed to support teamwork awareness and reflection in collaborative inquiry tasks. The tool is developed using a design-based approach and was based on the Team and Self Diagnostic Learning pedagogical framework. The system was trialled with 35 Secondary School students in a blended learning environment. Qualitative feedback from student focus group discussions and questionnaires were analysed from each trial. Design changes that focused students on specific reflection questions and goals helped to improve the quality of student responses of their teamwork. Further refinement of the tool and activity designs is in progress to better support teamwork awareness and reflection to build the teamwork competency of 21st century learners.