Let's talk about GROUP WORK

A student read my blog the other day and told me that I should write more often. I looked back and realized that it's been almost a year since I've written here. Although I write all the time, I have been publishing in other places so this blog has been virtually abandoned. Poor little blog. I didn't mean to leave you sitting here getting dusty and covered in cobwebs.... So, I'll post another entry here and see how long it is before I post again. Maybe I can make this a habit.

I just assigned a new project: a group podcasting project. After I finished the instructions and the class was leaving, one student said, "I hate groups. Can't I just do this by myself?"

My adult teacher answer was prompt, "No. Working with groups is good for you." I didn't tell her this then, but there is evidence to support the value of group work. According to Carnegie Mellon:

Properly structured, group projects can reinforce skills that are relevant to both group and individual work, including the ability to: 

• Break complex tasks into parts and steps

• Plan and manage time

• Refine understanding through discussion and explanation

• Give and receive feedback on performance

• Challenge assumptions

• Develop stronger communication skills.

Group projects can also help students develop skills specific to collaborative efforts, allowing students to...

• Tackle more complex problems than they could on their own.

• Delegate roles and responsibilities.

• Share diverse perspectives.

• Pool knowledge and skills.

• Hold one another (and be held) accountable.

• Receive social support and encouragement to take risks.

• Develop new approaches to resolving differences. 

• Establish a shared identity with other group members.

• Find effective peers to emulate.

• Develop their own voice and perspectives in relation to peers.

So, yes, I know that group work is beneficial. But the student/employee part of me totally agrees with her. I hated, hated, hated group projects when I was a student -- even in college and graduate school. I heard all of the arguments: Groups help you learn to work better with others (but maybe I don't want to work better with others). It broadens your perspective (but sometimes a narrow perspective suits me). Two heads are better than one (I like mine just fine, thank you). When I  work with a group, I have to subjugate some of myself to the will of the group. I have to give up some control to accommodate others' work styles and timelines. I can't retain complete decision-making authority because I am one of 3 or 4 (or however many) working on the same thing.

Yeah, I hate it. Still to this day I hate group work. BUT, I can do it. Because I did it as a student, I can do it as an adult when necessary. It is not and probably will never be my preferred method of accomplishing tasks. However, I need to be able to do more than just those things I love. So, I look at group work like nasty medicine. It tastes terrible going down, but I feel better after I've taken it.

Hopefully, this project (and others) won't be too painful for my students. And, perhaps it will help them in the long run....