Student-based group work or team work has become an important part of learning.

1
Introduction

• Student-based group work or team work has become
  an important part of learning.

2
Benefits to group learning

• The benefits of group learning are associated
  with collaborative activities, namely
• Peer learning
• Learning to work with others to achieve common
  objectives
• Learning how to divide tasks
• Creates a new learning dynamicfun ?people who
  enjoy a learning activity learn more and better
• Other benefits?

3
Various types of group work

• Group class presentations
• Group project work
• Outside-class group case analysis
• Inside-class group case analysis

Today we will focus on inside-class group analysis
4
Overview of contents

• Designing Group Assignments
• Preparing Students for Group Work
• Forming Effective Groups
• Methods for allocating students into groups
• Getting Groups Started
• Monitoring Groups
• Assessing Groups

5
Forming Effective Groups

• How many students should be in each group
• What formation methods are available
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each
  method

6
How many students should be in each group

• I recommend four-member groups for a number of
  reasons
• Students find it easier to organize meetings
• Students get a larger piece of the work to do and
  feel they can make meaningful contributions
• Less chance of free-riding
• Less chance of group fragmentation
• Easier to develop group cohesion
• Easier to make collective decisions

7
Getting Groups Started

• For groups to be effective, they must have
  regular and productive meetings.
• On average groups will meet once a week for an
  hour. It is beneficial for a student to take
  minutes.

This is not applicable to in-class group work
8
Taking Minutes/Recording Answers

• Keeping minutes helps a group by
• Providing a structure to their meetings
• Keeping meetings running on time
• Keeping a record of decisions made
• Recording each members responsibilities
• Allowing members to see their progress and
  achievements over time

For outside-class group work
In the case of in-class group assignments, one
person should be assigned to record discussions
leading to the groups answer to the assigned
questions
9
Role Structure Rotation
Facilitator responsible for chairing the meeting
Note taker responsible for recording the
discussion and final answers
Devil advocate responsible for critically
examining group ideas
Time keeper ensures that all the questions get
answered in time
Team players support the other roles through
active followership
10
Assignment Handout

• Students are expected to record their final
  answers on the group assignment. (See Handout
  example)