What can I do to make group work meaningful?
The ability to work well in groups is one of the most important skills we can teach students, regardless of discipline. Ideally, group work draws on the discovery that comes from deliberation and the wisdom of collective experience. But assigning just a sufficient amount of work to a group doesn't mean that the students will work together. All too often, groups divide the task and meet only long enough to patch their pieces together. As an instructor, you are responsible for creating tasks and facilitating an environment that encourages, or necessitates, authentic co-operation.
- Design group work complex enough to require a group.
- Students often have had unpleasant experience with collaboration: acknowledge this, explain how your groups will be different.
- If group work is important, make it part of class; use class time and have groups report on their progress and results.
- Spend time helping groups develop; teach team building skills, help them define their roles and provide a structure that encourages equitable participation.
- Keep groups small (2-4 members) and varied; don't be afraid to group them yourself.
- Think carefully about the time and resources it takes to accomplish each task.
(NOTE: Below links will open in a new browser or tab window)
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Complex enough
Designing Successful Group Projects
TEPs own Collaborative Research guide to designing group assignments that reflect the larger class goals and incorporate student input.
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Explain how your groups will be different How and Why to Use Group Work
From Berkeley's tools for teaching- pay particular attention to the sections on "Dealing with Student and Faculty Concern About Group Work" and "Setting Up Study Teams"
Common student concerns about group work
From the Colorado State group-work guide for students.
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Part of class
Short In- Class Activities for Collaborative Learning
While this site is designed for science instructors many of the activities/ strategies suggested are applicable to other disciplines. The site offers guidelines for selecting and organizing groups, as well as many collaborative learning structures (activities). Also has testimonials and suggestions from teachers who've used these strategies.
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Team building skillsVideo Demonstrations of Small Group Facilitation
From Ohio State University. This site provides streaming videos that include both instructions and demonstrations of team building skills.
Making Groups Inclusive (PDF File)
From Barbara Gross Davis’s book Tools for Teaching.
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Helping students connect outside of class
This page from IT connections can help you organize your students virtual group meetings.
Address questions or comments about
TEP or this site to:
Georgeanne Cooper, Program Director,
64 PLC
Phone: 541-346-2177 Fax: 541-346-2184
© Copyright 2000-2006 Teaching Effectiveness Program, University of Oregon.
Last Modified:
05/22/08
