How Transformative Learning Theory Can Inform Team Building Pedagogy

Scholars and practitioners complain that business school graduates are inadequately prepared to function effectively in workplace teams. This outcome is concerning; business school instructors routinely assign students to classroom teams, and the literature offers rich insights for guiding and instructing students to improve collaboration. Yet, telling students how to work with each other seems inadequate; key stakeholders including employers and instructors report dissatisfaction about demonstrated learning. The co-authors designed and implemented an Escape Room Exercise based on the tenets of Transformative Learning Theory. After engaging 83 student teams in the Escape Room Exercise and post-exercise debriefing sessions, students reported transformed perspectives into teamwork, and transformative learning about collaborating with others in their teams, forming a guiding team charter, leading their team, and initiating constructive conflict.