Students Working in Groups
I try to break the students in pairs or small groups to do short in-class exercises. I have one student who refuses to work with others. When I pair him with another, he takes total control therefore prohibiting the other to participate. This is particularly difficult with a less confident student. Any advice on how to handle the "controlling" student?
I find that working in pairs is best for shop modules. When I have three or more students working together, one or two of students do most of the task. A single person working alone on the same module will take longer to complete the task.
You could team him up with yourself.This should drop some of his controlling promblem.
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful example of how technology and learning groups can work together to make things happen. You are right in your analysis of how important the human factor is in today's work place. By being able to bring diverse groups together and produce objects or services a student is going to be successful in the workplace.
Gary
In this situation, I might assign the group leaders. As the 2000's come to a close (this decade), we will see if the focus on teams/groups becomes less prevalent. I've seen the subject matter change from technology (in the 80's) to the human resource and how to keep the good ones (in the 90's) to the synergistic effect of team work - online and in person. As this is such an important and common theme in corporations and other small or mid size companies, it's imperative that all learn to work within the parameters of a group setting. I try to teach all group members that no matter what their role, it's important to be a good team player and offer suggestions. I also express, more importantly, that a good group experience is fine and wonderful when it really works but a bad group experience tends to be a better learning experience. One must figure out how to work within this format and manage to produce the product. I ask for very specific feedback such that anyone who did not "hold his/her own" will not be graded the same if all members are in agreement. Today's focus does not allow for one to be set apart from this experience unless the job is a cubicle, individual job title/position. I recently had an online course with a group project. One student was in NY city, another deployed in Afganistan and the third in Iraq. They managed amazingly and produced a good product despite these enormous geographical and time zone differences. This teaches better communication and this is a skill one should not be allowed to be apart from. Once I discuss what one may have learned about him/herself in a horrible group experience, he/she tends to really grasp all that was taken from the experience. As long as the instructor is available and considers communication or personality issues and grades accordingly, this is a wonderful learning assignment - good or bad. Now, if this decade takes us in another direction in terms of focus, this may not be as important but communication and learning to do it better in written or verbal format will always be important.
I have students in an online class who do not communicate w other teammates. Emails to them as well as their student adviser, announcements, seem to have marginal effect. Any tips you want to share?
David,
I would talk with the student to understand their reservations and explain the benefits of group projects. Because real life requires team work, I explain the importance of working in groups. Usually this works. If I ever come across a situation where the student refuses to work on the group project, then I would likely allow them to work separately.
Gigi
Hi David,
What I have done in situations like this is to have the cooperative student complete a project on his/her own so I have something to score that individual on. Since it is a new project assignment (even though it may be within the same topic area) it is not late because it is a new assignment. The cooperative student is not hurt by the other student's lack of effort or cooperation plus gets an opportunity to show their abilities.
Gary
Hi Gary,
Thanks.
I have a follow-up question. The student, as mentioned below, was assigned to present a Powerpoint presentation with another student. I paired them according to knowledge of Powerpoint as part of the learning experience. The "noncooperative" student did not show thus leaving the other student hanging. She, due to her less assertive behavior and his controlling, had nothing to present. My policy is no late work. I hate to give her a "0" but policy dictates that score. What might be your advice for scoring the "other" student? I easily can give the "noncooperative" student a zero.
Thanks
David
Hi David,
When I have a student like this I have him work on his own. It is his loss in terms of developing social skills and the ability to work with others. I have the groups report out on their projects and share the results of them working together. I don't include the non-cooperative student in this process. I meet with such a student separately to discuss his work because I won't let him have any attention or recognition as a result of his non-cooperation. I have found after a few of these experiences that such a student will generally come around and start to work with others or they leave the class.
Gary
