HOW TO CORRECTLY COLLABORATE
The dreaded group work. I think everyone has either experienced first hand or have witnessed the downsides of group work. Everyone is aware of them, even teachers, yet it seems like group work is still being used every day. In my classes, I am always in some sort of group. Usually, it is great, but the times when a group-mate just won't pick up their slack, it makes you question why this type of instruction is still being used today.
The answer comes in the future of the individual. Group work is not only made to make your big class project more manageable, but it is also to teach you the essential life skills you will need outside of the classroom. From learning to take responsibility for your tasks or understanding how to take constructive criticism, learning how to work in a group outside of a controlled, classroom environment.
As an educator, you should be trying to reach three big goals every time you use groups. Students should be working on their interpersonal communication, conflict resolutions, and task management. Also as an educator, you need to realize the fact that the ability to work in a group of individuals is a learned skill. You cannot assume students know how to work in groups automatically and never teach them this very important skill because it will only bite them in the butt later on.
As an educator, you should be trying to reach three big goals every time you use groups. Students should be working on their interpersonal communication, conflict resolutions, and task management. Also as an educator, you need to realize the fact that the ability to work in a group of individuals is a learned skill. You cannot assume students know how to work in groups automatically and never teach them this very important skill because it will only bite them in the butt later on.
Hi Dialah,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post. I can say I do dread group projects and or work because I am always feeling like I am the one starting or putting in more work than my classmates. I do like group work where you are collaborating with others across a form of a google doc or something else where you can see who is on and commenting or who is not doing what. As a teacher I would love to teach collaboration at such a young age where it is age appropriate with even sharing thoughts on a book they brought home for the night.
Hi Maddie, thanks for the response! I totally understand and also end up dreading group work. However this semester seems like never ending group work, which has actually ended up forcing me to confront the usual group work problems that students always run into
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