Marietta, Georgia
March 10, 2024
March 10, 2024
March 12, 2024
Diversity
13
10.18260/1-2--45581
https://peer.asee.org/45581
95
Amy Borello Gruss is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Kennesaw State University. Dr. Gruss graduated with her PhD in environmental engineering from the University of Florida studying aqueous mercury removal from industrial wastewaters using photochemical processes on an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program grant. Dr. Gruss gained experience in the consulting field working on water projects such as novel disinfection processes within water resource recovery facilities and alternative disposal of treated biosolids in land applications. Currently, Dr. Gruss investigates analysis and removal mechanisms of microplastics at water treatment facilities and fate and the transport of microplastic concentrations in treated sludge. She also published multiple journal articles on sustainability and the science of teaching and learning in higher education.
Engineering students may obtain the technical skills required of them upon graduation, but many students still need development in the interpersonal skills necessary for teamwork and team efficiency. This research proposes that the low-stakes activity of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) can be used as a tool to practice communication and active listening. VTS is a tool for observers to have guided interactions with artwork and has shown to promote observation and listening skills in participants in the medical field, though little research has been done on the impact in the engineering field. This research found that implementing VTS activities in a small pilot course was an effective way to increase students' preference towards teamwork, as measured by the Collective Orientation instrument. This mixed-methods study shows 16 out of 22 participants increased their Collective Orientation score and positive interview data was collected from the diverse population that participated, which varied in year, major, race/ethnicity, and gender. This study shows VTS can be a powerful, free, low-stakes tool to help increase team cohesion and efficiency in any course.
Gruss, A. B., & Clegorne, N. A. (2024, March), Utilizing art exhibits as a low-stakes activity to improve teamwork experiences Paper presented at 2024 South East Section Meeting, Marietta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--45581
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