Intervention Formative Assessment
Diversifying Collaborative Working
I was inspired by Leah Cox’s workshop entitled ‘Pedagogies of Discomfort’ and using this as a decolonisation tool. (Cox, 2025). This made me contemplate how I can bring about change regarding my intervention. I began to think about my prior knowledge and how I could develop this further. (Figures 1-3).
Figure 1: Intervention mind map. (Smith, 2025)
Figure 2: Intervention mind map. (Smith, 2025)
Figure 3: Intervention mind map – collaborative working. (Smith, 2025)
Using the double – diamond process I have highlighted my intentions. (Design Council, 2025)
Figure 4: The double – diamond process.
Discover
As an academic support lecturer, working collaboratively is an area that has highlighted as a challenge for the past three years and has proved to be a recurring theme. Collaboration within the design schools forms a major part of the course deliveries.
‘I find it difficult to speak up about my ideas in my group. They do not understand about what I am saying.’ (UAL student 2024).
‘I am a team leader, but I feel that I may come across as bossy.’ (UAL student, 2024.)
The main reason for this is communication. There are often language and cultural barriers that forms obstacles for nurturing relationships.
I reflected on the different intersectional identities that have an impact on group dynamics that was also shared by Crenshaw (2013) and the different layers. I thought why not discuss the elephant in the room from the outset. As highlighted by Boler (1999) we should support pedagogies of discomfort. Students will initially feel discomfort when meeting but devising a decolonisation tool will be a supportive way of building relations for the future. Establishing and discussing students’ cultural identities and their role within a team will give a better understanding of working collaboratively and encourage multiculturalism. Students like high challenge but will also need high levels of support. (Cox, 2025).
Define
My focus for my intervention will be on providing practical support for collaborative working for MA and BA students.
Cultural differences can often create divide within a group. I will be focusing on a tool that can support students to gain further understanding on their teammates learning language. Understanding ways of working is crucial to a successful project. As highlighted by Holtzman and Anderberg (2011, pp.75-92) it is encouraged to diversify your team when collaborating for great minds do not always think alike.
Develop
This links to my practice and will support students when they have a one-to-one tutorial with me or a collaborative workshop. I intend to create 10 – 15 collaborative working prompt cards that will help to generate discussions and dialogue among students using the idea of Belbin’s theory seen in (figure 5). (PrePearl, 2023)
Figure.5. (PrePearl, 2023) Team roles.
The cards will have colourful images encouraging the user to be tactile and engage. Images will also support the wording on the cards for diversity and clarity, exercising inclusive pedagogies. The cards would be best suited prior to when the collaborative unit is delivered.
Figure 6: Example of cultural diversity and collaboration cards. (Admin, 2023)
Figure 7 – 12: Example of cultural diversity collaboration cards .
Deliver solutions /challenges
This intervention will be feasible within the time frame, and I would like to develop this for my final action research project. The challenge will be to create and produce cards that will provide clarity and engagement.
My methodology will be using a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative.
Feedback from students and staff before and after the intervention will be implemented. Suggestions will be reflected upon, and this intervention will form a part of my practice.
References
Boler, M. (1999) Feeling Power. Emotions and Education. Abingdon: Routledge.
Cox, L. (2025). A Call for Change: Utilising Discomfort Pedagogy as a decolonisation tool in teaching and learning practice. Leah Cox. Available at: https://ual-moodle-sitedata.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/35/bd/35bd7b96f93d2bee582385f8fb0310ab2414c24d?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22UAL%20discomfort%20pedagogy%20slides%2014.05.25.pptx.pdf%22&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA2PCH3OG65JHUZNKL%2F20250526%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250526T224551Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=69&X-Amz-Signature=d3a90f29df5403ab24bb43f7741259816ddd8395d142ba6abab955c1d2434419 [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Crenshaw, K.W., 2013. Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of colour. In The public nature of private violence. Routledge.
Design Council (2025). Framework for innovation. [online] Design Council. Available at: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-resources/framework-for-innovation/ [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Holtzman, Y. and Anderberg, J., 2011. Diversify your teams and collaborate because great minds don’t think alike. Journal of Management Development, 30(1), pp.75-92.
PrePearl (2023). Belbin Team Roles – PrePearl Training Development. [online] PrePearl Training Development. Available at: https://www.prepearl.net/belbin-team-roles/ [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Image References
Figure 1& 2:
Intervention mind map. (Smith, 2025)
Figure 3:
Intervention mind map – collaborative working. (Smith, 2025)
Figure 4:
Design Council (2025). Framework for innovation. [online] Design Council. Available at: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-resources/framework-for-innovation/ [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Figure 5:
PrePearl (2023). Belbin Team Roles – PrePearl Training Development. [online] PrePearl Training Development. Available at: https://www.prepearl.net/belbin-team-roles/ [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Figure 6:
Admin (2023). The Importance of Diversity – St Mary’s Calne Blogs & Logs. [online] St Mary’s Calne Blogs & Logs. Available at: https://www.stmaryscalne.org/blogs/the-importance-of-diversity/ [Accessed 26 May 2025].
Figure 7-12:
Examples of cultural diversity collaboration cards. (Smith, 2025)