Group work can be a challenge to effectively manage in the classroom. There are a number of strategies for success and common challenges to avoid.
The first step is to make sure students know why they are working together. This can include defining the project objectives and ensuring that everyone understands what they are expected to do.
Effective Strategies
Group work is a powerful tool for helping students learn, but it can also be a challenge to manage. Teachers have many responsibilities in managing group work, including keeping groups on task, intervening appropriately to improve learning and regularly regaining student focus.
One common challenge is uneven student contributions, or lack of equal distribution of work among the group members. When this occurs, it can cause conflict among students and a feeling of being unfair to those who aren’t completing their work on time.
A solution to this is to establish expectations for the group at the beginning of the project and hold everyone accountable. It is also important to periodically check in with students and make sure they are on track for meeting deadlines. Keeping a classroom routine can help.
Another strategy to help manage group work is to provide students with resources that allow them to engage in their group work as they feel most comfortable. This can include a variety of different technologies and tools for collaboration.
Common Challenges
Groups working together in the classroom have the potential to be a wonderful way for students to learn new content and develop valuable soft skills. But, it can also lead to a number of challenges.
One of the most common problems is that individuals may not contribute as equally to a project as others do. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including differences in personal disposition (introversion or extraversion), mental or physical health, comfort or interest in the topic, and individual responsibilities outside the group project.
Luckily, there are several strategies that can help smooth out this common issue and make group work more productive and enjoyable for all involved. In episode #403 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, experienced educator Rebecca Houge shared her tips for dealing with some of these common issues and making group projects more successful.
Resolving Conflicts
Group work has many benefits including peer-to-peer instruction, a sense of community and more productive outcomes. However, conflicts can also arise in groups and negatively impact group cohesion.
When conflict occurs, it’s important to resolve the issue as quickly and efficiently as possible. Quick resolutions can help prevent a negative work environment and create more productive teams.
A common cause of conflict is when team members are working on a task that is outside their normal skill level. They may have a strong desire to complete the task, but aren’t equipped to do so.
Students are often hesitant to discuss issues with others, or they might even try to ignore them altogether. This is called groupthink and can be counterproductive to progress in the classroom.
In this case, a simple solution can be found: allow each person to speak their mind. After everyone has had their say, the whole group can then decide on a course of action.
Final Words
When you ask students to work together in groups, you need to communicate the purpose clearly. For example, you might explain that group projects provide an opportunity for your students to develop important skills.
You should also explain that you’ll check in with them periodically to ensure that they are functioning effectively.
One of the most common challenges with group work is that members don’t always know how to divide up the tasks. This can be a problem when projects are multifaceted, when a member doesn’t have the skills needed to complete the project, or when a member slacks off on her agreed-upon work.
To avoid this problem, break down big projects into smaller parts, assign different people or groups responsibility for different aspects of the project, and make sure each group member has a clear understanding of what they need to do. By doing this, you’ll reduce conflict and keep your students on task.