Group Work In Higher Education
The Journal of Effective Teaching an online journal devoted to teaching excellence
Group Work: How to Use Groups Effectively
Alison Burke1
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR 97520
Abstract
Many students cringe and groan when told that they will need to work in a group. However, group work has been found to be good for students and good for teachers. Employers want college graduates to have developed teamwork skills. Additionally, students who participate in collaborative learning get better grades, are more satisfied with their education, and are more likely to remain in college. This paper will discuss the use of group work in higher education.
Keywords: Group work, collaborative learning, higher education pedagogy.
Teaching and learning …show more content…
Overall, it seems clear that when it comes to group work, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While creating, monitoring, and evaluating groups is a recursive process, active learning techniques are beneficial for students. Supplementing lectures with group work helps students feel engaged and subsequently learn more (Payne, MonlTurner, Smith & Sumter, 2004). Group work helps students develop teamwork skills and social interactions as well as learning about various backgrounds, culture, beliefs, and attitudes (Payne et al., 2004). Group work does not have to yield “group hate” and as long as the instructor is properly prepared to introduce and facilitate group involvement and participation, group work can produce very positive and lasting results.
References
Barkley, E. F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C. H. (2005). Collaborative learning techniques: A handbook for college faculty. San Francisco; Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Beebe, S. A., & Masterson, J. T. (2003). Communicating in small groups. Pearson
Education Inc. Boston: Massachusetts.
The Journal of Effective Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2011, 87-95
©
2011 All rights reserved …show more content…
ASHE-FRIC Higher Education Report
No.4. Washington, D.C.: School of Education and Human Development, George
Washington University.
Light, R.J. (2001). Making the Most of College: Students Speak their Minds. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press.
Mckeown, R. (2011). Using rubrics to assess student knowledge related to sustainability:
A practitioner’s view. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 5(1), 6174.
Murphy, K. L., Mahoney, S. E., Chen, C. Y., Mendoza-Diaz, N. V. & Yang, X. (2005). A constructivist model of mentoring, coaching, and facilitating online discussion. Distance Education, 26(3) 341–366.
Office of Educational Development: Division of Undergraduate Education (2007). “Why
Use Groups In College Classes?” University of California, Berkley.
Payne, B. K., Monl-Turner, E., Smith, D., & Sumter, D. (2004). Improving group work:
The Journal of Effective Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2011, 87-95
©
2011 All rights reserved
Group Work
95
voices of students. Education, 126 (3), p. 441-448.
Sorenson S.M. (1981). Group-Hate: A Negative Reaction to Group Work.Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association (Minneapolis,
MN, May 21-25,
Group Work: How to Use Groups Effectively
Alison Burke1
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR 97520
Abstract
Many students cringe and groan when told that they will need to work in a group. However, group work has been found to be good for students and good for teachers. Employers want college graduates to have developed teamwork skills. Additionally, students who participate in collaborative learning get better grades, are more satisfied with their education, and are more likely to remain in college. This paper will discuss the use of group work in higher education.
Keywords: Group work, collaborative learning, higher education pedagogy.
Teaching and learning …show more content…
Overall, it seems clear that when it comes to group work, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While creating, monitoring, and evaluating groups is a recursive process, active learning techniques are beneficial for students. Supplementing lectures with group work helps students feel engaged and subsequently learn more (Payne, MonlTurner, Smith & Sumter, 2004). Group work helps students develop teamwork skills and social interactions as well as learning about various backgrounds, culture, beliefs, and attitudes (Payne et al., 2004). Group work does not have to yield “group hate” and as long as the instructor is properly prepared to introduce and facilitate group involvement and participation, group work can produce very positive and lasting results.
References
Barkley, E. F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C. H. (2005). Collaborative learning techniques: A handbook for college faculty. San Francisco; Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Beebe, S. A., & Masterson, J. T. (2003). Communicating in small groups. Pearson
Education Inc. Boston: Massachusetts.
The Journal of Effective Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2011, 87-95
©
2011 All rights reserved …show more content…
ASHE-FRIC Higher Education Report
No.4. Washington, D.C.: School of Education and Human Development, George
Washington University.
Light, R.J. (2001). Making the Most of College: Students Speak their Minds. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press.
Mckeown, R. (2011). Using rubrics to assess student knowledge related to sustainability:
A practitioner’s view. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 5(1), 6174.
Murphy, K. L., Mahoney, S. E., Chen, C. Y., Mendoza-Diaz, N. V. & Yang, X. (2005). A constructivist model of mentoring, coaching, and facilitating online discussion. Distance Education, 26(3) 341–366.
Office of Educational Development: Division of Undergraduate Education (2007). “Why
Use Groups In College Classes?” University of California, Berkley.
Payne, B. K., Monl-Turner, E., Smith, D., & Sumter, D. (2004). Improving group work:
The Journal of Effective Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2011, 87-95
©
2011 All rights reserved
Group Work
95
voices of students. Education, 126 (3), p. 441-448.
Sorenson S.M. (1981). Group-Hate: A Negative Reaction to Group Work.Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association (Minneapolis,
MN, May 21-25,