This document provides guidance on effective principles and best practices for working in online groups. It outlines four parts: preparation, assignment, technology, and evaluation. For each part, it lists several checklist items to ensure groups are set up for success, such as making sure students understand the value of collaboration, providing clear guidelines and adequate time for assignments, using collaborative workspaces and communication tools, and implementing evaluation strategies to monitor individual involvement and accountability. The document also shares advice from students, such as recommending tools to facilitate out-of-class meetings, having multiple contact methods, reviewing roles, and providing benchmarks and guidance on dealing with difficult group dynamics.
10. ADVICE from the Experts…Faculty Focus Magazine And some of our students of course
11. Online group work checklistPart 1: Preparation Students understand the value of both the process and product of the collaboration. Students have guidance concerning how to work in an asynchronous team. Group size is small enough to allow for full participation of all members. Course provides numerous opportunities for community building prior to group projects.
12. Online group work checklist:Part 2: Assignment Assignment is an authentic measure of student learning. Assignment will benefit from collaborative work. Students have clear guidelines of the expected outcome of the collaborative assignment. Assignment creates a structure of positive interdependence in which individuals perceive thatthey will succeed when the group succeeds. Assignment is scheduled to allow adequate time for preparation and communication. Assignment is designed in a manner to allow students a level of personal control.
13. Online group work checklist: Part 3: Technology Students are provided with tools and instructions to facilitate online communication. Each group has a collaborative workspace within the online course. Students have technology skills relevant for asynchronous communication. Back-up procedures are in place to deal with technology failure.
14. Online group work checklist:Part 4: Evaluation Grading and/or evaluation strategies differentiate between the process and the product. Strategies are in place to monitor interaction processes. Clear grading rubrics are provided at the start of the assignment to guide student work. Self and peer evaluations are included in the process to monitor individual involvement andaccountability.
21. Remind us that the other person isn’t always the problem. ~jamaal
22. Give us guidance on how to deal with “difficult member roles”.~Anonymous
23. Can we have some benchmarks please? Don’t just throw is to the sharks! ~Maria
24. Make certain we have enough time to get to know each other and complete the project!~Jon
25. Davis, B.G. (1993). Tools for teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass (Excerpt can be found here: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html) Rothchild, J.D. (2010). In mixed company: Communicating in small groups and in teams/ Chapter Two: Groups as systems (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth Publishing The Faculty Focus Series: Download available for members here: http://www.facultyfocus.com/free-reports/effective-group-work-strategies-college-classroom/ Recommended Readings…
Notas del editor
One great way to transition between ideas is to ask a question to get your audience involved. So here you could ask WHY students might be taught to work effectively in groups.
Talk about when they will work in groups in their industry…like FASHION Maybe even ask them when they think students will need these skillsPicture: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/09/2212604.htm
Talk about when they will work in groups in their industry…like ANIMATIONPicture: http://pixarblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/animated-feature-symposium-photos.html
Talk about when they will work in groups in their industry…like CULINARYPicture: http://www.chef2chef.net/culinary-institute/the-art-institutes/atlanta-ga.html
Groups don’t always work…so next we can examine when is the best time to use them
Group work is pointless when it is something that everyone can “Google” and figure out in minutes. But if there are a variety of factors to consider, roles to play and solutions that could work, then group work is ideal!
We are social creatures AND many of us tend to learn better when we debate, discuss, or help others understand concepts. No need for FULL QUARTER group assignments to get group work benefits. Get them helping each other on understanding a project or concept. Then have them individually take a quiz or complete an assignment. If a group does well (you set the benchmark) as individuals, give them a small reward. Isn’t that what happens in real life? Only the reward might be a bonus, a contract or other big fish. Here it can be getting out of class a few minutes early or a few bonus points!
Think of any team…a kitchen crew, a surgery team or a sports team (choose your favorite). What do they have in common? One person can not effectively play all roles. Same for a college class team. Consider an assignment where there are several roles or skills students should possess. For example, most groups involve people who research, play devil’s advocate effectively, understand technology, are creative, and even have other skills like a strong understanding of legal or financial repercussions of ideas.
Finally, some advice from experts and students alike on working effectively in groups.
From Faculty Focus…http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/how-to-design-effective-online-group-work-activities/
From Faculty Focus…http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/how-to-design-effective-online-group-work-activities/
From Faculty Focus…http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/how-to-design-effective-online-group-work-activities/
From Faculty Focus…http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/how-to-design-effective-online-group-work-activities/
Here’s a good reference for some basic roles: http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/roles.html