A&S Teaching & Learning Community of Practice 2025-26: Team-Based Learning in a Second-Year Software Design Course

Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an evidence-based teaching protocol that includes student preparation materials, in-class readiness assurance testing, and collaborative group activities. We redesigned a second-year computer science course using the TBL framework to enhance students’ teamwork and communication skills, increase engagement and critical thinking, and improve knowledge retention. In this presentation, we will describe the TBL protocol, our course development process, and insights gathered from student surveys, TA debriefings, and our own experiences as instructors.

Presenters:

Lindsey Shorser, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science 
Paul Gries, Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science 
Jonathan Calver, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science 

For more upcoming CoP sessions, visit our Quercus site.