Challenges of Using Students Groups
The most common to me is personalities, some people just don't get along with certain other types of personalities, I always tell them that you need to learn to work and deal with all types of personalities on the job. This will also help build there own character as well and how they treat each other.
What are some challenges of having students work in groups?
Grettings Lisa!
If I have to say there is a number one challenge for groups - this would be it. Then the second is grading students.
I'm not sure that we can ever find a fix for either one but we constant interaction/observation by the instructor, outsomes are typically better.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 facilitator
One of the challenges of using student groups is having the same strong indivduals do most of the work and the weaker students following along. I often have students number off or sort them in ways to provide different combinations of indivduals to prevent this from occurring.
Hi Judy!
So how do the groups work out by placing same levels of abilities together? I would think that those less motivated students would have difficulty being successful since they are not motivators and doers in the group?!?!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Some of the challenges of having students work in groups are somestudents complain about other students not contributing their fair share to the group project.
I require my students to make a list of task they would like to accomplish in their project and have each student pick a task that they will be responsible for accomplishing. I also have each student make a list of their group meembers and do a peer evaluation on the contribution of each group member.
The students are responisble for turning in the task list, abd group member peer evaluation along with their project.
One of the biggest challenges of student groups is making sure that everyone shares an equal role in the assignment. Too often the burden falls on the better student(s). I make it a habit to form groups by keeping same level abilities together.
I seems like the biggest challenge I see in group projects is the need for one or two members to take over the projects. While most groups do create roles, the problem of the minority taking over a project seems to occur a lot. For this reason, I require the creation of a team charter. This allows the group to understand the roles and develop a plan for conflict.
Hi Anthony!
I really like your approacy of clearly defining the expectations of the project. I use a rubric in making group assignments then - as you said - it is clear on what they are to accomplish.
I actully like the idea of giving each team member their assignment; however, don't you think that it undermines one of the reasons for group work? That reason being allowing the group process to work where a natural leader occurs and then the group decides on assignments.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Some student workgroup challenges include personality conflicts, individualism, interdependence,respect of others (time), and acceptance of diversity and differences. A common challenge is the hitchiker who tries to ride the coattail of the group. Another is the dominant personality who tends to dominate and sometimes control the group. However...groups are important in teaching learners work and life skills which will help them thrive in today's dynamic and ever changing world.
Hi Donna!
So true! I've found that no 2 classes are the same when it comes to group activity. But this is the real world. Instructors must continually adjust their group strategies.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
One challenge is giving them a clear direction on what the group is supposed to accomplish. I generally give hard-copy instructions for each group, rather than relying on verbal instructions, because it helps the students stay on task.
Another challenge is to connect group work squarely into the course material. One of the first attitudes students will bring in is "well, this probably won't be on the test" or something to that effect.
Giving each student in the group a task to perform can be effective if you have one student who is apprehensive to speak up or share his or her opinions as well.
My previous position posed challenges because I taught 6 classes which ranged in size from 11 students to 42. These numbers had to be taken into consideration in order to successfully utilize student groups. Just because they were studying the same chapter didn't always lend itself to the same group structure.
Hi Sherri!
I made some suggestions in an earlier post to Tamarin, however, one I did not discuss is time allotment. When we work in groups in the classroom, I like to limit the group time to no more than 1 hour depending on the assignment for that day. I really like 30 minutes or less the best because students know they have to get it completed.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Tamarin!
I agree and I think it because the classroom is not the real world of employment. But hopefully, helping students stay on track and understanding the reasons behind group work, students will be able to transfer that knowledge to the real world.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
The challenge I face is keeping the students on task. I find that I must monitor each group to enusure that it is a work group and not a social group. While social interaction helps with group cohesion, it is easy for groups to stray from the task at hand and spend the entire time talking about sports or other assignments for other classes. In order to help with this problem, I switch the group members around.
Keep students on task instead o fthem using teh time to socialize.
Hi Allen,
I think it is easier if group memebers like each other however the group process needs to assist them in real world practice. The field I am preparing my students for relies on a team member approach for safe outcomes. In my practice I have seen profound negative effects of team members not being able to overcome their differences and work in support of each other. The group can be a good way of teaching students that professional behavior and a team approach is expected in their practice.
If the students within the group will get along, will they peer pressure one student to do everybodies work, and will the work get completed.
Some of the problems I have encountered are keeping the students focused on the objective(s) of the group, not using the time as social time, getting along with others within the group nad not having 1 or 2 students do all the work.
