![]() ![]() Assign group tasks that encourage involvement, interdependence, and a fair division of labour. All group members should feel a sense of personal responsibility for the success of their teammates and realize that their individual success depends on the group’s success. ![]() See our teaching tip “ Group work in the Classroom: Small-Group Tasks” for some ideas. By pooling their resources and dealing with differences of opinion that arise, groups of students can develop a more sophisticated product than they could as individuals. In most cases collaborative exercises should be stimulating and challenging. Make the task challenging. Consider giving a relatively easy task early in the term to arouse students’ interest in group work and encourage their progress.When deciding whether or not to use group work for a specific task, consider these questions: What is the objective of the activity? How will that objective be furthered by asking students to work in groups? Is the activity challenging or complex enough that it requires group work? Will the project require true collaboration? Is there any reason why the assignment should not be collaborative? Roberson and Franchini (2014) emphasize that for group learning to be effective, students need a clear sense that group work is "serving the stated learning goals and disciplinary thinking goals" of the course (280). The activity should relate closely to the course objectives and class content and must be designed to help students learn, not simply to occupy their time. Identify the instructional objectives. Determine what you want to achieve through the small group activity, both academically (e.g., knowledge of a topic) and socially (e.g., listening skills).This discussion can be successfully done anonymously through the use of note cards. Talk to students about their past experiences with group work and allow them to establish some ground rules for successful collaboration. Insist on professional, civil conduct between and among students to respect people’s differences and create an inclusive environment. Think carefully about how students will be physically arranged in groups. Will it be easy for groups to form and for all students to be comfortable? Also think about how the layout of your classroom will impact volume. Will students be able to hear one another clearly? How can you moderate the activity to control volume?.Use these suggestions to help implement group work successfully in your classroom. But without careful planning and facilitation, group work can frustrate students and instructors and feel like a waste of time. Group work can be an effective method to motivate students, encourage active learning, and develop key critical-thinking, communication, and decision-making skills. Student Led Individually Created Courses (SLICCs)Īmit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student ![]()
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