Project Description
This research project investigated how social emotions experienced by computer science students shape their learning and collaboration during team projects. Using interviews, experience-sampling diaries, and classroom observations, the study followed student teams over a full project cycle to capture emotional dynamics as they unfolded in real time.
The findings show that students experience significant emotional fluctuations—ranging from excitement and satisfaction to stress, frustration, and exclusion—which directly influence engagement, teamwork, and learning outcomes. Social emotions related to trust, warmth, and status emerged as particularly important in determining whether team interactions became supportive or competitive, and whether students were satisfied with their learning experiences. While some students reproduced norms of competitiveness and emotional restraint, others fostered collaboration, openness, and mutual support, leading to more positive learning experiences.
For EPFL, the project provides actionable insights for improving team-based learning environments. The results emphasize the importance of monitoring social-emotional dynamics, promoting psychologically safe teamwork practices, and supporting inclusive team cultures to enhance student well-being, collaboration, and learning in project-based courses.
Contacts
- Nihat Kotluk, [email protected]
- Vladislav Krivoshchekov, [email protected]
- Yoann Favre, [email protected]
- Egon Werlen, [email protected]
- Marina Fiori, [email protected]
- Roland Tormey, [email protected]
Dates and Funding
- Start date
- 01.05.2023
- End date
- 31.12.2024
- Funding
- BeLEARN (belearn.swiss)
Publications
- Krivoshchekov, V., Kotluk, N., Favre, Y., Fiori, M., Werlen, E., & Tormey, R. (2025).
“I felt there was no team to be included in”: Navigating social emotions and masculinities in engineering team projects.
Journal of Engineering Education, 114(4), e70026.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.70026 - Kotluk, N., Favre, Y., Fiori, M., Werlen, E., & Tormey, R. (2024, September 2–5).
The emotional journey of computer science students in team projects: The turbulences and the interplay between academic emotions.
Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Conference of SEFI, Lausanne, Switzerland.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14254812