How Tandem Works
Tandem is an online tool that gives you insight into how student teams are functioning and gives students resources to improve their team experience. Tandem collects data from students about how their team is performing. Then, Tandem uses a sophisticated algorithm to identify teams in need of support. Tandem uses team data to assign the most relevant team work lesson to each team.
Tandem is optimal for those who:
- Teach a course where teamwork is a core course component
- Have to manage multiple teams within your course
- Plan to keep the same teams all term
- Have at least three students per team within your course and a minimum of 4 teams within your course
Guiding principles
Tandem impacts the following teamwork constructs:
- Inclusion and belonging
- Psychological safety
- Idea equity
- Within-team communication
- Team-to-instructor communication
...all while also optimizing instructional team time and effort spent managing teams.
Data Tandem uses
Tandem relies on four core components:
- Beginning of Term survey: this is the first thing students do in Tandem before teams are even formed
- Team Checks: 6-question check-ins that take less than 2 minutes to complete where students rate their team and can offer feedback
- Lessons: interactive content that let students practice specific teamwork skills
- Team Evaluations: 20-minute long, in-depth self and peer assessments completed at the middle and end of each term
Setting up Tandem
Start using Tandem in 3 easy steps:
- Course Details: enter your course information
- Term Planner: complete a quick survey and create your schedule
- Team Formation: form your teams based on the rules you create.
For more technical information, please visit our Instructor Help Documentation