Working with Groups
Reviewed: January 2008
This page has been kept for reference.
It will no longer be updated by ICVET.
If you are working with large groups of students in a classroom environment, you’ll know the value of using group work as a learning strategy. Groups can come up with more ideas than individuals, the work load can be shared across the group members, equipment and resources can be shared and teamwork is promoted. Knowing how to work effectively within groups is an important interpersonal skill we need to develop and to continue developing throughout our lives. Understanding how we and others function in a group is beneficial to the growth and prosperity of a group.
However, groups are not always the best strategy to use. If not managed correctly, groups can adopt ‘groupthink’, thereby stifling individual thought, expression and/or creativity. Another critical issue for VET practitioners is how to assess group work. Has everyone in the group contributed equally? How can I be sure that learning has taken place for all members of the group?
Follow the links below to where these and other questions are discussed and strategies for working with groups are offered.
Websites
Assessing group work
This is a ‘must-visit’ website as it tackles many of the perplexing issues surrounding group work, including: good reasons for group learning; issues and concerns (eg, overuse of groups): group assessment – product, process or both; who gets the marks; assessment options, advantages and disadvantages of each option; other assessment possibilities. The site offers a PowerPoint presentation along with a printable PDF version of the page. Sadly the link to a related topic at the bottom of the page is dead.
Peer evaluation of group members
This is an age old problem – how to asses the relative input of each student into group assignments? Here is an example of a group evaluation tool that may inspire you in creating your own group evaluation tools.
Groupthink
When working with groups, it is critical to be aware of and to guard against groupthink; the process of decision making through conformity or uncritical acceptance of the prevailing point of view. This link to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia, contains a definition, information on symptoms and prevention, a reference list, links to related topics within Wikipedia (eg. group polarisation, mob rule, peer pressure, etc) and links to external websites. Definitely a fountain of information!
Group dynamics: Basic nature of groups and how they develop
This index contains links to basic and practical information on the stages of group development and the development of informal work groups. The website belongs to the Free Management Library and you will also find a wealth of links to related topics within the library: group learning; interpersonal skills; self-directed and self managed teams; team building; valuing diversity, and for those teaching online - virtual teams!
Writing@CSU: Working in groups
Written by Colorado State University as a resource for new students, this comprehensive guide examines the benefits of working in a group, strategies for dealing with fears and resistance to group work, common-sense rules for collaboration, tips for writing together, techniques for using group time productively and for dealing with problems within the group.
Seven steps to working in groups
Although aimed at providing students with survival skills for working in groups, this webpage is worth a read as it gives strategies for dealing with problematic group members, eg, dealing with the monopoliser, the silent member, the saboteur, the habitual joker and the know-it-all – usually you find one or two of these students in most groups!
Academic Skills Online – Working in groups
A concise, easy to read article from the University of Canberra’s website outlining key attributes for successful group work, common problems that can occur and behaviour patterns for dealing with these problems. There are tips for students to help facilitate successful group work, including a Gantt Chart for planning timeframes.
Publications
BENSON, JF 2001, Working more creatively with groups, Routledge, London.
Here you will discover the basic knowledge required to set up and work with groups. Benson looks at how to plan and lead a group successfully and how to intervene skilfully. The book covers the different stages in the life of a group, emphasising the group experience and offers practical suggestions.
TYSON, T 1998, Working with groups (2nd ed), Macmillan Education, Australia.
Examining small group dynamics, this book focuses on the behaviour and processes typical of management, planning, decision making and learning groups. Part 4 presents models of group effectiveness and explores the relationship between group development and learning.
JOHNSON, DW & Johnston, RT 2003, Assessing students in groups: Promoting group responsibility and individual accountability (Experts in assessment series), Corwin Press, California.
Written with teachers, principals, and staff developers in mind, this book explains how to form productive groups and assess individual student performance in group work. There are many practical resources including scoring sheets, observation forms, learning contracts, classroom activities, and questionnaires.