HILT Grants: Enhancing student team effectiveness

TL;DR

Law schools are recognizing the need for teaching collaboration and teamwork skills to prepare lawyers for the complex requirements of their profession.

Transcript

and so this is a required first year course in which they do all of their works and teams and where we teach it as a teaching team that might not sound revolutionary for other parts of the university but for the law school it really is the role that lawyers play when they leave Harvard Law School is so complicated these days and it absolutely requi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 The course at Harvard Law School aims to prepare students for the complex professional demands by teaching teamwork and collaboration skills.
• 😤 The word-matching exercise used in the course provides accurate results and helps students understand their role within a team.
• 🥺 The exercise fosters conversations and breaks down barriers, leading to improved team dynamics.
• 😤 Developing a common language around assessment tools encourages problem-solving and better communication within teams.
• 👨‍🎓 Teaching collaboration and teamwork skills in law school helps students succeed in various fields after graduation.
• ❓ Collaboration and teamwork require better communication skills and the ability to appreciate different perspectives.
• 🫡 The exercise serves as an icebreaker, helping students respect each other and hesitating before judging others.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the course at Harvard Law School aim to teach collaboration to students?

The course uses a word-matching exercise to assess students' roles in a team and fosters conversations, helping students appreciate different perspectives and work together effectively.

Q: How does the fast word-matching exercise work?

The exercise is similar to Myers-Briggs but quicker. Students take a two or three-minute exercise that matches them with specific roles within a team, providing accurate results that help them understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Q: How does the exercise contribute to better team dynamics?

By assessing individual roles and generating team graphs, the exercise encourages students to analyze and appreciate each other's strengths, fostering communication, collaboration, and breaking down barriers within the team.

Q: Why is teaching collaboration and teamwork essential for law students?

The complex role of lawyers in society demands the ability to collaborate, appreciate different perspectives, and work effectively in teams. These skills are necessary for solving difficult problems and achieving success in any field after graduation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A first-year course at Harvard Law School focuses on teaching teamwork skills necessary for lawyers.

• The course uses a fast word-matching exercise similar to Myers-Briggs to assess students' roles within a team.

• The exercise fosters conversations, breaks down barriers, and improves team dynamics.