How to Hold All Students Accountable When Completing Group Projects
With the changing delivery mode that is happening in today’s 21st century classroom, instructors are facing many new challenges. One of the challenges is the increased use of group projects. In many college classrooms today, students are being asked to collaborate with their classmates to solve real world problems. Although there are many advantages for using group work, one of the downfalls can be the individual accountability factor. Some instructors are afraid of group projects because it can allow the “slackers” that might be in the group to obtain a better grade courtesy of their group members. This challenge can easily be overcome with a few simple steps.
First, the group project should be designed so that the students must work through the project in phases. The instructor should provide students with required assignments due on required days. These assignments should assist students in successfully completing the teacher’s expectations for the final project. Setting these due dates will keep students from completing the project the night before while allowing the instructor to stay in contact with each group. This ongoing contact will allow the instructor to offer ongoing guidance, support, and perhaps mediation.
Secondly, develop an element to the project that creates a sense of ownership for each individual in the group. This can easily be accomplished by giving the group members the opportunity to make their own choices. Giving students some freedom to choose a topic that interests them, but that also fits into the course curriculum, could provide the needed ownership of the project and should enhance student engagement.
Next, within a group project, create a component that requires students to periodically submit individual work assignments. This could be simple personal reflections that correlate to what’s going on in the group project. In order for the students to successfully write their reflections, they will have to be heavily involved in the components of the group project.
Next, before all group projects, dedicate some class time to implement two simple steps:
Completing these two items will increase group collaboration, which will better ensure the successful completion of the project.
Lastly, prepare students to always “expect the unexpected.” Students are use to being more passive learners, so they will expect you, as the instructor, to fix any problems that might arise. Make sure you give the students time to work through the problem(s). Encourage them to try to develop possible solutions to any issues that come up; then have them choose and evaluate the best plan of action to solve the problem. By doing this, students will naturally become problem solvers, as well as analytical and critical thinkers.
Effectively preparing students for the 21st century workforce means we must prepare them to work as a group to solve real world problems that arise. By giving students the opportunity to practice these needed skills early on guarantees their success in the future.
Darlene Smith
June 24, 2015
With the changing delivery mode that is happening in today’s 21st century classroom, instructors are facing many new challenges. One of the challenges is the increased use of group projects. In many college classrooms today, students are being asked to collaborate with their classmates to solve real world problems. Although there are many advantages for using group work, one of the downfalls can be the individual accountability factor. Some instructors are afraid of group projects because it can allow the “slackers” that might be in the group to obtain a better grade courtesy of their group members. This challenge can easily be overcome with a few simple steps.
First, the group project should be designed so that the students must work through the project in phases. The instructor should provide students with required assignments due on required days. These assignments should assist students in successfully completing the teacher’s expectations for the final project. Setting these due dates will keep students from completing the project the night before while allowing the instructor to stay in contact with each group. This ongoing contact will allow the instructor to offer ongoing guidance, support, and perhaps mediation.
Secondly, develop an element to the project that creates a sense of ownership for each individual in the group. This can easily be accomplished by giving the group members the opportunity to make their own choices. Giving students some freedom to choose a topic that interests them, but that also fits into the course curriculum, could provide the needed ownership of the project and should enhance student engagement.
Next, within a group project, create a component that requires students to periodically submit individual work assignments. This could be simple personal reflections that correlate to what’s going on in the group project. In order for the students to successfully write their reflections, they will have to be heavily involved in the components of the group project.
Next, before all group projects, dedicate some class time to implement two simple steps:
- Find a way for the students to get to know each other. Make sure students secure contact information so they can stay in touch while working on the group project outside of class.
- Make sure to establish group expectations and set ground rules for the project.
Completing these two items will increase group collaboration, which will better ensure the successful completion of the project.
Lastly, prepare students to always “expect the unexpected.” Students are use to being more passive learners, so they will expect you, as the instructor, to fix any problems that might arise. Make sure you give the students time to work through the problem(s). Encourage them to try to develop possible solutions to any issues that come up; then have them choose and evaluate the best plan of action to solve the problem. By doing this, students will naturally become problem solvers, as well as analytical and critical thinkers.
Effectively preparing students for the 21st century workforce means we must prepare them to work as a group to solve real world problems that arise. By giving students the opportunity to practice these needed skills early on guarantees their success in the future.
Darlene Smith
June 24, 2015