Teamwork First-Aid Kit supports students in project-based courses

I like, I wish team feedback method wins an award

Satu started to actively engage in teaching at the early stages of her PhD studies while working at Aalto Design Factory. It was during that time when she also created the I like, I wish team feedback method, for which she received the “Teaching act of the year” award by Aalto University School of Engineering in 2015. The method has since been adopted as a standard practice in several courses at different schools in Aalto University as well as at other universities in the Design Factory network, such as ESADE Business School, Swinburne University of Technology and CERN Idea Square. The multidisciplinary learning by doing approach has guided Satu’s way ever since. 

What inspires you in your work? 

Satu sees teaching as an important way to influence society through educating experts that can solve complex challenges in a collaborative manner, drive continuous change, and lead people and teams in a sustainable way. Teamwork and collaboration skills are at the core of work life skills and even more so in the ever more complex world. "We need to educate people who can collaborate with people coming from diverse educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds", Satu says. 

"I first became intrigued by how diverse teams cope with the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent to the early stages of innovation while taking the Stanford University Design Innovation course as part of my master’s studies. My experience in that course has influenced my teaching. In the new product development course, I struggled to find my role due to my business school background in an engineering-driven environment. This led me to recognize the need for structures promoting reflection on team roles, especially in multidisciplinary teams. Feedback from peers on individual roles can empower students and foster participation”, explains Satu.