- Print
- DarkLight
- PDF
Before assigning group work
You don't want students to see group activities as busy work. If group work doesn't enhance your learning objectives and provide value, consider alternative teaching techniques. Only use group work for projects an individual student can't do as well alone and finish in the intended amount of time.
Research shows that students work harder when others rely on them. To encourage this interdependence, create group assignments that require the students to divide the work to meet the goal, question and challenge each other's ideas, and share feedback and encouragement.
Before incorporating group work into your course, consider these questions:
- Will the group work further my course objectives?
- What introductory material or group resource information can I provide to help students succeed?
- How will the groups be formed?
- Will students be involved in planning the groups?
- How will I assess students' learning and maintain individual accountability? Will I require a group deliverable?
- How will I handle concerns and problems?
Source: "44 Benefits of Collaborative Learning." gdrc.org n.d. Web. 3 Jan. 2020.
Watch a video about group assignments
The following narrated video provides a visual and auditory representation of some of the information included on this page. For a detailed description of what is portrayed in the video, open the video on YouTube, navigate to More actions, and select Open transcript.
This video might still display the Details & Actions menu on the left side of the screen - it has since moved to the right hand side. Click here to see what it looks like.
Video: Group Assignments shows how you can deliver assignments to groups of students.
Credit to Blackboard Help