Effective collaboration requires explicit teaching of communication, conflict resolution, and shared decision-making.
Assign rotating roles: Designer, Builder, Tester, Documenter. Students switch roles weekly so everyone experiences each perspective.
Use "idea protocols" where every team member must contribute before any decision is made. This prevents one student from dominating the process.
Teach "yes, and" thinking. When a teammate suggests an idea, others build on it rather than dismissing it. This creates a culture of additive thinking.
