The Leader in Me

  Marshmallow Challenge

During class, we did a fun, collaborative experiment called the "Marshmallow challenge." In this challenge, we were arranged in groups of 4-6 and were given the following items: 1 marshmallow, 20 strands of pasta, 1 yard of tape and string. The challenge was to build the tallest free standing structure with the items given in under 40 minutes. In the beginning, everyone felt that this was just a typical workshop that the wonderful Ms. Bey wanted us to do. However, after the experiment we were given the actual explanation to the marshmallow challenge. In many ways it seems like any other game, but in a grander scheme it demonstrates the importance of creativity, innovation and collaboration. During the challenge, groups would have to work as a unit and whichever team is able to definitively work creatively, innovatively and collaboratively will make the tallest free standing structure. Also, through this challenge we were able to gain a sense of interpersonal relationships with each other and understand what was cooperative learning. We learned that peer relationships are associated with school competence, involvement in the classroom can lower levels of negative behaviours and it enhances psychological health. Through this we learn valuable lessons that are imperative in the course. Typically, many people would want to get the challenge right in one start to finish, but what we all soon learned was that prototyping is the key to success. Doing something over and over again, it sets up as a basis or sample for future models. Likewise, the marshmallow challenge inherits a sense of cooperative learning. This exists when the accomplishment of each individual goals is affected by the actions of others which promotes a greater effort to achieve. In context to the whole course of business management, this challenge was a simple, but an impactful way to symbolize the importance of cooperation.