Group work

is a form of cooperative learning. It aims to cater for

individual differences, develop students' knowledge,

generic skills and attitudes.

How Important is Preparing Students for Group Work?

For students to operate effectively in groups, preparation is essential. Students should not be expected to be "team ready" just because they have been working in groups

before. Each group experience is new and students need to cover the basics. For example, students need to know:

• What sort of group work will be conducted in this subject? • Why is group work needed in the subject?

• Who will be their fellow group members and why? • What specific skills will be developed through their

participation in group work?

How Should I Prepare Students for Group Work?

1) to provide students with a written rationale for group work;

2) to reinforce the written rationale with a verbal presentation about group work;

3) to encourage member familiarity before group formation

Informal learning groups

Formal learning

groups

Study teams

Types of group

work

Allocation Method

Random Appointment

Self-selection Selective Appointment

Task Appointment

Description of Method

Students are randomly appointed to groups  (e.g. via a

call off system, drawing names from

hat, etc.)

Students form their own groups

Students are appointed to groups based on criteria (e.g. mark

aspirations, specific skills, etc.)

Students are appointed to groups

based on a preference for a

particular assignment topic

(offered from a range of choices)

Advantages of Method

- Easy to administer

- Breaks up friendship groups

- Seen as fair by students

-- Easy to administer

- Students have choice

- Students have some choice

- Students work with compatible members

- Seen as fair

- Students have choice

- Students work with members with

similar interests

- Seen as fair

Disadvantages of Method

- No choice by students

- Too much luck involved (e.g.

perceived by students as a “lucky dip”)

- Often viewed by students as the lecturer’s “easy

option”

- Difficult for students who don’t know others in the class (particularly minority students)

- Selection bias (e.g. students mostly

choose to work with their friends)

- Not seen by all students to be fair

- Can disadvantage some students

(particularly those with low mark aspirations)

- Selection bias (e.g. may not break up

friends)

- Can be time consuming

(particularly if using questionnaires to appoint students)

- Often an over or under subscription

for some topics (thus affecting the size of the groups)

- Selection bias (e.g. may not break up

friends as they may choose the same

topic)

Adopting a Rotating Role

Structure A rotating role structure is one where the position of leadership is

deconstructed and distributed or shared among the group members This means that all group members are responsible for a specific function or leadership duty and thus tend to be more active in group meetings. This is particularly true for students who tend to speak up less in groups, as they have the positional power to enact the roles.

There are a number of functional role typologies available. The most generic comprises these five roles:

• "Facilitator" - who is responsible for chairing the meeting • "Time keeper" - who ensures that the meeting keeps to time • "Recorder/notetaker" - who is responsible for taking the minutes of the

meeting • "Devil advocate" - who is responsible for critically examining the ideas of the

group members and trying to avoid "group think" emerging within the group • "Team players" - who support the other roles through active followership

Why Work in Groups?

You might choose to work or write a paper in a

group rather than individually for many reasons. Some of the

reasons include practical experience while others highlight why group work

might provide a better learning experience:

In group work, you can draw on each group member's knowledge and

perspectives.

You can also draw on people's different strengths.

Groups are great for motivation: they force you to be responsible to others.

Group work helps keep you on task.

Guidelines for

Group Work

The members of student groups may benefit from keeping some common-sense rules and

aphorisms in mind as they come to collaborate:

Rule OneCollaboration teaches us what we know how to do, not just

what we know. Collaboration teaches method. Rule Two

Collaboration works best when it is apparent – when you know that you are collaborating. A certain amount of

formality is called for.Rule Three

Collaboration succeeds when everybody succeeds – individual members as well as the group as a whole.

Rule FourCollaboration is a key responsibility in the class

experience – it means being involved in the teaching of the course.

Rule Five No one ever knows how a collaborative activity

will turn out.

Writing the Paper TogetherDepending on the purpose of the

assignment, you can choose from a number of models for working in collaborative groups. Before you start, read some demands as for effective group work

fulfilling a writing task:

Determine what Final Paper Should 'Sound' Like.

Before actually beginning to write, your group will need to make some decisions about the

final draft.

When you divide the writing tasks, each member does research and writes a portion of the document.

The group then reconvenes to suggest revisions, smooth over transitions, and even edit style

inconsistencies.

Writing together is efficient in that groups can sometimes make better decisions than

individuals.

Writing Tasks Suited to

Group Work

1. Interpretations

Writing tasks suited

for group work

Interpretations Cultural Analyses Lab/Field ReportsAny Type of Evaluation

Interpretation is the act or process of interpreting or explaining; explanation, as of the environment, a historical site, etc., provided by the use of original objects,

personal experience, visual display material, etc.

Cultural analysis is a stream of investigation which seeks to understand and map trends,

influences, effects, and affects within cultures.

There are four themes to cultural analysis: 1. Adaptation and Change

2.How culture is used to survive3.Holism,Specifity

4.Expressions

Lab/Field Reports are formal reports compiled and communicated by field engineering or other onsite personnel for off-site personnel

Evaluation is the systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or

someone. Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest

in a wide range of human enterprises, including the Arts, business,

computer science, criminal justice, engineering,

foundations and non-profit

organizations, government,

health care, and other

human services.

Dealing With Problems in a Group

Group work is rarely flawless.

Two methods for dealing with problems are monitoring

the group and

discussing

the problems.

A teacher should also mind:

Making decisions about deadlines, meeting etiquette, and penalties for

missed work before any of these occur.

Encouraging the group to somehow monitor itself.

Encouraging group members to discuss with the entire group any problems they

see arising.

Examples of Group Work(taken from We Learn English by Alla Nesvit)

I. 1.Read in groups. Complete the table. Share your notes with the other group.

2.Speak in class. Use your notes to tell your classmates what you have learnt from the text about Indian dwellings.

II. Work in groups. Speak in class.

Group A. Tell your classmates how to make your homework properly.

Group B. Persuade your listeners that homework is very important.

Group C. Tell your listeners a story from your school life.Example: Group A: it’s very important to do your homework properly.

Listen to your teacher at the lesson attentively. Take notes. Look

through your notes at home. Work with your textbook carefully.

A kind of house

Building material

Size

Decorations

Things inside

Examples of Group Work(taken from Challenges2)

I. Describe an interesting building in your town or city. 1.Work in groups. Find out information about the building:

* date of construction * style *materials *rooms *opening times *prices

2. Use your notes to write a leaflet about the place. 3. Check your leaflets. Then re-write them on a piece of paper.

Add photos of the places. 4. Pass your leaflets around the class. Choose the best leaflet.

II. Work in groups. Talk about the rules in your home. Use the cues and your own ideas. Whose home is more relaxed?

Example: I have to buy bread every morning. I can invite my friends but we can’t listen to loud music. I don’t have to cook.

*clean the bathroom *cook *do the shopping *make the bed in the morning *play computer games *tidy my room *wash up

Guidelines for Online Group Work• Check your group discussion board regularly. • Show you are listening. • Agree on a time to meet online. • Take part. • Treat each member with respect and value all contributions• Do not take comments personally. • Clearly define your assignment task. • Work together.

Just as with any team you will work with, some will function really well with apparent ease and some will not. Establish guidelines or routines clearly, be friendly, contribute regularly and inject some personality. You might just find that the experience of working in a group online is one of the most valuable ways of preparing for your future career.

Sources:

1. http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/processes/group2. http://www.iml.uts.edu.au/learnteach/groupwork 3. http://en.wikipedia.org4. http://www.thefreedictionary.com5. http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-

support/ studyskills/handouts/groups.php6. http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html7. Challenges2, Pearson Education Limited 20068. Несвіт Ф.М. Ми вивчаємо англійську мову:

Підручник для 6-го класу загально освіт. навч. закл. – К.: Ґенеза, 2006. – 208 с.

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