Team-Based Learning as a Method for Improving Organizational Training Effectiveness

Team-Based Learning as a Method for Improving Organizational Training Effectiveness

September 14, 2012
Philbrook

Dr. Brigitte Steinheider, Organizational Dynamics, University of Oklahoma -Tulsa

Team-based learning (TBL) is an instructional method developed in the early 1990s at the University of Oklahoma. TBL is an active learning approach which places emphasis on the application of concepts as a means to learning. In TBL, students read the materials before class; during class time, team activities promote active learning by discussing and sharing different perspectives and experiences to solve increasingly complex problems. Research has found that TBL improves comprehension, critical thinking, and retention. TBL is especially suited for adult learners with varying levels of experience; however, so far it has been used mostly in academic settings. A recent study on SAP training compared team-based learning to a traditional training approach and found TBL to be more effective; another study in a call center environment found a learner-center approach increased retention and reduces absences of recently hired employees. In this presentation, different training approaches will be discussed and compared with a focus on team-based learning, its implementation and potential benefits for organizations.

Learning objectives

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the method of team-based learning
• Compare the benefits of team-based learning to learners with other teaching approaches
• Describe the benefits and challenges of team-based learning for trainers
• Understand the importance of social comparison processes for learning 

More about the Presenter:

Dr. Brigitte Steinheider is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. She earned her MBA in 1992 from the University of Düsseldorf and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Technology Dresden in 1996. Her research focuses on collaborative leadership as well as interdisciplinary collaborations and knowledge integration in corporate R&D teams and academic settings.  She has consulted for a variety of international organizations such as Volkswagen, Bosch and Daimler Benz AG.