The biggest challenge I have found are students not using the time in groups productively. They become easily distracted and use the time to socialize. I use several techniques to redirect them and have reevaluated the group assignment to ensure it is interesting for the students, but sometimes it is not effective. Excited to hear how others overcome this.
As others have mentioned, we have to be aware of those students who are doing all of the work and those who aren't doing their fair share. I like the idea of using rubrics for each student to evaluate other group members - if they know at the start how they will be evaluated and that it is part of their grade, everyone tends to do their share of the work.
The main challenge of having students work in groups is that everyone's education now becomes, at least in part, contingent on the levels of motivation of each of the other students in the group. A student who is excelling in the subject, and has aspirations for a far reaching project now is required to have the skills to motivate fellow classmates to align to that level of motivation and vision. These skills rightfully belong to the role of the instructor. In graphic design, should an excellent student now have to carry a compromised portfolio piece because other group members could not perform at that level and should that excellent student now have to share a lowered grade because the other participating members did not deliver their required parts on time? The scope of group projects must avoid these potential pitfalls.
The typical complaint I receive from students is their concern of others not doing their share. Then there are those students preferring to do the project solo rather than in a group. I frown upon letting students complete the project solo as this defeats the purpose of group work. My response to students is they must become accustomed to team work as working with individuals who do not pull their own weight and/or do not participate happens which is why group work is important. Students need to understand how to work with all types of personalities.
Leon,
great point made here! I always try to encourage & help the groups have some type of diversity.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jeff,
yes, I try to avoid groups with friends; although sometimes it just happens, but definitely not the best situation.
Dr. Ryan Meers
sean,
yes I think it's in the structure of the assignments that we can help eliminate some of the riding of coat tails.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Anthony,
this is definitely a challenge that I try to address in the grading of the assignments.
Dr. Ryan Meers
If students have a friendship with many students in that group, it can often be more of a distraction, due to off campus activities.
I rarely use groups because they often don't work. This is especially true when students have sporadic attendance. Groups need specific participation and if only certain members are present, that is not possible. Groups also have a tendancy to shift work onto a few good members while the others seem to loaf. I want to be more positive on group work because I loved it when I was an undergraduate, but I grew to dislike it as in instructor.
Where the members have similar skills or backgrounds, it can stifle ideas and creativity. Useful to have diverse set of skills.
Some students might hide inside a group.
Groupthink.
Leon Guendoo
it seems that always one superstar will do all the work and the lazy ones will take the glory. Our school and particularly my class has a very intense work load and luckily even though we use groups the lazy ones cannot just ride coat tails
One of the greatest challenges is that students sometimes tend to discuss topics that have nothing to do with the class/assignment material. Though it is good that the students have established a good rapport within the group, this can become a waste of time. I give my groups checklists that must be completed by a certain time. This lack of time for off-topic discussion seems to help a great deal.
One thing I have noticed is that people want to get done with the project or lab. They will go as fast as they can. Student then do not retain the info because they didnt take the time to process the information.
Anissa,
I think this is a great strategy to use especially when you see these type of issues.
Dr. Ryan Meers
One major challenge is that the students tend to migrate to those that they are familiar with. Also the stronger students tend to stick together and not wanting to work with the weaker students. I do use a rotating system in my class setting in order for each student to work with each other at least one time.
Vickey,
this demonstrates a great awareness of what is best for your students & what works well in your classroom.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have found that letting the students pick their own groups causes a huge division in my students. Now we pick numbers out of a hat. This way it is fair. Once I caught a student trying to "buy" someone elses number and had to put a stop to that. But it seems to have worked out fine. They like to "compete" against each other to present the best project. (and it is friendly competition) I have found that now all the students get along much better and everyone gets involved, where before i had a couple of wall flowers that didnt really say much at all in class. Now they participate right along with everyone else.
Yes I think The pros far outweigh the cons
Its hard when you have one or two people that do not get along or that one person wants to be heard more than another or someone wants to be always right and never wrong. when some students do more work than others.
