Designing Groups for Group Projects
A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education considers what makes group work “work” in a course, including the impact of group design on the success of these assignments. The article suggests that careful planning and observation of students’ interactions can ensure more effective collaboration. Citing research showing that underrepresented students often report feeling sidelined in group work, the article points to the importance of ensuring that students take on different roles in groups. The article also suggests that instructors provide students with rubrics that focus students on the process—rather than the product—of group work.
