ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the research that analyzes the issues and impacts of unconscious bias on student project teams. It offers several strategies and tools to bring equity into the process of forming teams, enable students to work with each other and manage their teams more equitably and effectively, and bring what Bensimon terms equity-mindedness to faculty project advising. Collaborative learning on teams is challenging for students as they work to manage grade-dependent interpersonal relationships. Task assignment biases occur when students assign themselves or others tasks based on unconscious biases regarding who is more or less capable of or suited for particular tasks. One of the main challenges of addressing inequity on student teams is faculty discomfort. Most faculty, naturally, feel most confident in teaching students about topics for which they have received master's and doctoral degrees, like chemistry or Greek history.
