Team-Based Learning in the Political Science Classroom (Journal of Political Science Education)

Team-Based Learning is a specific interactive educational method that has been shown to develop skills for meaningful teamwork. Through engaging classroom activities, students experience the benefits of working with others. According to the literature, students perceive the benefits of teamwork including understanding the course material more deeply and producing higher quality class assignments. The data from in-person classes confirm previous research, mostly drawing from medical and business schools, that team-based learning has a significant impact on student attitudes toward working in teams. This study also provides a new understanding of the challenges of adjusting Team-Based Learning to the online format. While Team-Based Learning may have positive impacts on learning outcomes and interactions with faculty and other students, this study confirms that greater attention to the key elements of TBL is crucial to improving student attitudes toward teamwork. The data show no impact of TBL in the online classroom on student perceptions of teamwork. This finding, though, could be driven by the sacrifices made to key elements of TBL, especially simultaneous reporting, which occurred in the online environment. I do not suggest that TBL is ineffective online. Instead, I suggest that great care must be applied to ensure that all core elements of TBL are present online as in-person. I also recommend continued research into the many tools for virtual learning that enhance teamwork to guarantee the techniques of TBL. Holmsten, S.S. (2023). Team-Based Learning in the Political Science Classroom: Comparing In-Person to Online Instruction. Journal of Political Science Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2023.2251621