“I can only take a few questions”: Navigating Uncertainty and Competition through Collaborative Problem-Solving

We share an experiential exercise that challenges teams of students to complete an ill-defined/ambiguous task within the context of a competition. Teams are challenged to make sense of the information provided, gather new information through careful and strategic question-asking, and to carefully consider how/if they will collaborate with their competitors in order to accomplish the task, such that they earn points in hopes of being declared the winner. Designed and play-tested in the context of a leadership competition, the activity can be adapted to help teach students about managing uncertainty/stress, collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, conflict and more.