_edited.png)
1.7
Taking Inventory of Collaboration Skills
Submitted by Shannon Wheatley Hartman & Jack Byrd Jr.
This activity introduces key collaborative discussion skills and invites participants to reflect upon their own skill development. Participants have the option of working in small groups to support one another in skill development. The survey can also help facilitators support individual or group needs.
Learning Goals
Develop awareness of collaborative discussion skills.
Self-evaluate collaborative discussion skills.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Invite participants to evaluate their collaboration discussion skills using the Taking Inventory of Collaborative Discussion Skills Questionnaire.
Step One: Share Group Assessment of Collaborative Discussion Skills (10 min)
If participants completed the survey in advance, share the group’s assessment of their skills (do not share individual results). Share the major areas of strengths and areas for growth. Share this visually on the board or screen so that they can use it as a reference point for later. Then, move to Step Three.
If participants did not complete the digital survey in advance, then distribute hard copies of the Taking Inventory of Collaborative Discussion Skills Worksheet. Follow the directions. Participants will be asked to assess their skills. Describe each category:
F – Fulfillment: You are completely satisfied with your abilities.
C – Comfort: You feel confident in your abilities but wouldn’t mind working on refinement.
D – Developing: You recognize this is an area of growth and welcome the opportunity to improve.
L – Lacking: You recognize a deficiency, but you are not yet comfortable developing this skill and/or do not believe it to be valuable at this time.
Step Two: Develop a Composite View of Assessments (10 min)
In small groups (3-4 ppl), ask participants to review their worksheets together to get a sense of where the group feels like it has strengths (Fs and Cs) and where there is room for growth (Ds and Ls).
Step Three: Identify Areas for Growth and Support (20 min)
In small groups (3-4 ppl), invite individuals to identify 3-4 skills that they would like to improve. Explore how the group might help support growth in the respective growth areas. Save these support statements using the Collaborative Discussion Skills Growth Commitment Worksheet.
Step Four: Debrief as a Full Group (10 min)
Possible prompts:
As a group, which collaborative discussion skills do we seem to be the most comfortable expressing?
As a group, where do we see the most room for growth? Why do you think this is?
During our time together, how might we refer to our commitment worksheets?
TIME
50
min
MODULE
Introduction to Collaborative Discussion
This activity can be completed by any discussion group.
This activity can be easily modified for asynchronous learning. See Sample Asynchronous Certificate Program Design to illustrate sample sequencing.
This activity can be used to support facilitation skills. See Sample Facilitation Certificate Program Design to illustrate sample sequencing.
This activity is suitable for professional or more formal learning environments.
Tell us what you think. Rate and review this activity:
Have any helpful suggestions or modifications for this activity?
Share them in the comments below!
0 Comments
Staci Offutt
August 13, 2026 at 4:38:23 PM
We added a Mad Libs style component to this so that the content creation wasn't a barrier for the learnings here. We also added emphasis on "influence" since this is for a business class.
Rachel Piontak
August 5, 2026 at 10:38:21 PM
This is so helpful- thank you!
Mochina
May 5, 2026 at 4:16:44 PM
N/A
Noreen Lape
October 15, 2025 at 1:57:49 PM
May 29, 2025 at 8:53:17 PM
May 29, 2025 at 8:46:13 PM
Ella Glaser
December 8, 2024 at 10:09:36 PM
Ella Glaser
December 8, 2024 at 10:09:14 PM
Ella Glaser
December 8, 2024 at 10:08:52 PM
September 28, 2024 at 1:33:41 AM