Comments on: My Students Don’t Like Group Work http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/ Faculty Focus publishes articles on effective teaching strategies for the college classroom, both face-to-face and online. Sign-up for our free newsletter. Fri, 24 May 2013 20:10:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Top 12 Teaching and Learning Articles for 2012, part 2 | Life360View.com http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-8890 Top 12 Teaching and Learning Articles for 2012, part 2 | Life360View.com Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:06:44 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-8890 [...] 4. My Students Don’t Like Group Work Students don’t always like working in groups. Ann Taylor, an associate professor of chemistry at Wabash College, had a class that was particularly vocal in their opposition. She asked for their top 10 reasons why students don’t want to work in groups and they offered this list. Continue Reading » [...] [...] 4. My Students Don’t Like Group Work Students don’t always like working in groups. Ann Taylor, an associate professor of chemistry at Wabash College, had a class that was particularly vocal in their opposition. She asked for their top 10 reasons why students don’t want to work in groups and they offered this list. Continue Reading » [...]

]]> By: 21cif http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-8258 21cif Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:20:49 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-8258 Numbers 4 - 6 make perfect sense to me. I have often felt this way in online classes. It seems to be an easy out for the instructor. I can think of a particular instructional design course I took that was in an eight week format, had a very poor book as a text, and was rushed through with different people in the group doing varying levels of work and all was very chaotic. I can sympathize with numbers 4-6, but as a teacher myself, I can also see the value of asking if something is not clear or if material is confusing. In this way a teacher could easily lead a small group learning session tailored to the small group. Numbers 4 – 6 make perfect sense to me. I have often felt this way in online classes. It seems to be an easy out for the instructor. I can think of a particular instructional design course I took that was in an eight week format, had a very poor book as a text, and was rushed through with different people in the group doing varying levels of work and all was very chaotic. I can sympathize with numbers 4-6, but as a teacher myself, I can also see the value of asking if something is not clear or if material is confusing. In this way a teacher could easily lead a small group learning session tailored to the small group.

]]> By: JSmith http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-7812 JSmith Wed, 07 Nov 2012 05:17:08 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-7812 I have worked in the professional world in team-based environments, and I'm now doing a masters program. I can tell you with all honesty that the "group work" that happens in college is in no way comparable or relevant to what I've seen professionally. Here are some reasons why: 1. people in a real job have more "skin in the game" and much more motivated to work hard and contribute. 2. there is usually a common work space/work hours that people work together in a real job-which makes the process much more effective. 3. in a real job, there is some oversight and someone who has the authority and desire to call out slackers and has vested interested in the work being done--this is directly the opposite of what I've seen with many professors who want nothing to do with "group drama" and tell us to work it out among ourselves, which means that those of us that are competent usually end up carrying those who aren't. Group work as it is usually designed in college encourages social loafing. Slackers aren't pushed to strain themselves to produce work of high quality. High performers cannot explore their own potential. The best thing that professors can do for their students is to instill a sense of self motivation, self reliance, and individual competence, because those are the people that succeed in the professional world and contribute the most to the teams that they work in. Also, from a pedagogical standpoint, if your students tell you that they don't value the group work that you are assigning and that it doesn't work for them, you should listen and make some adjustments. Usually, the only people who "like group work" are the people who are lazy and incompetent and look forward to a free ride on someone else's work. I'm a big believer in the work of Paolo Friere who talks about students knowing what works best for them and how they learn best. One way that I could see group work being useful is if each person writes their own paper and then presents their work in a group format-something similar to a paper roundtable at a conference. That way there would be collaborative learning, but each person has to bring their own work to the table. I have worked in the professional world in team-based environments, and I'm now doing a masters program. I can tell you with all honesty that the "group work" that happens in college is in no way comparable or relevant to what I've seen professionally. Here are some reasons why: 1. people in a real job have more "skin in the game" and much more motivated to work hard and contribute. 2. there is usually a common work space/work hours that people work together in a real job-which makes the process much more effective. 3. in a real job, there is some oversight and someone who has the authority and desire to call out slackers and has vested interested in the work being done–this is directly the opposite of what I've seen with many professors who want nothing to do with "group drama" and tell us to work it out among ourselves, which means that those of us that are competent usually end up carrying those who aren't.
Group work as it is usually designed in college encourages social loafing. Slackers aren't pushed to strain themselves to produce work of high quality. High performers cannot explore their own potential.
The best thing that professors can do for their students is to instill a sense of self motivation, self reliance, and individual competence, because those are the people that succeed in the professional world and contribute the most to the teams that they work in.
Also, from a pedagogical standpoint, if your students tell you that they don't value the group work that you are assigning and that it doesn't work for them, you should listen and make some adjustments. Usually, the only people who "like group work" are the people who are lazy and incompetent and look forward to a free ride on someone else's work.
I'm a big believer in the work of Paolo Friere who talks about students knowing what works best for them and how they learn best.
One way that I could see group work being useful is if each person writes their own paper and then presents their work in a group format-something similar to a paper roundtable at a conference. That way there would be collaborative learning, but each person has to bring their own work to the table.

]]> By: KarenH http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-6270 KarenH Fri, 18 May 2012 01:30:20 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-6270 Not sure why you are comparing group work with lecture. Group work is inquiry based; and there are many wonderful individual inquiry based activities as well. Lecture is a completely different issue. Lecture is the opposite of inquiry based learning, not the opposite of group work. Not sure why you are comparing group work with lecture. Group work is inquiry based; and there are many wonderful individual inquiry based activities as well. Lecture is a completely different issue. Lecture is the opposite of inquiry based learning, not the opposite of group work.

]]> By: debh http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5635 debh Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:48:37 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5635 Odd as this may sound my students often enjoy group work. I assign projects or problems and they enjoy the change up from sage on the stage. They develop teams or better supportive relationships that carry some of them through their college experience. Odd as this may sound my students often enjoy group work. I assign projects or problems and they enjoy the change up from sage on the stage. They develop teams or better supportive relationships that carry some of them through their college experience.

]]> By: My Students Don’t Like Group Work | Faculty Focus « Free Online tools and other stuff… http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5610 My Students Don’t Like Group Work | Faculty Focus « Free Online tools and other stuff… Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:12:37 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5610 [...] of chemistry at Wabash College, had a class that was particularly vocal in their opposition.Via www.facultyfocus.com Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post.   Leave a [...] [...] of chemistry at Wabash College, had a class that was particularly vocal in their opposition.Via http://www.facultyfocus.com Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post.   Leave a [...]

]]> By: Cat Tech » Blog Archive » Brain Dump, Feb. 25 http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5573 Cat Tech » Blog Archive » Brain Dump, Feb. 25 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:34:54 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5573 [...] My students don’t like group work An associate professor of chemistry collected the top ten reasons from students why they don’t like group work; there aren’t a lot of surprises here, but it’s a good read. [...] [...] My students don’t like group work An associate professor of chemistry collected the top ten reasons from students why they don’t like group work; there aren’t a lot of surprises here, but it’s a good read. [...]

]]> By: @yogiconomist http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5570 @yogiconomist Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:07:08 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5570 The key to me is the last paragraph of the post - a conversation addressing student objections to group work. In many situations (classroom or not) the action of "acknowledging the hard" can make room for moving forward. In this case, a brief class discussion could include why groups often *suck* to work in, why it still might be important, and some strategies for making group work more tolerable. The key to me is the last paragraph of the post – a conversation addressing student objections to group work. In many situations (classroom or not) the action of "acknowledging the hard" can make room for moving forward. In this case, a brief class discussion could include why groups often *suck* to work in, why it still might be important, and some strategies for making group work more tolerable.

]]> By: Matt Birkenhauer http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5567 Matt Birkenhauer Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:33:45 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5567 As for Maryellen’s point—and I hear this often in defense of group work outside of the classroom, that “In the professional world, there's hardly a career where some (if not most) of the work is done in groups and not necessarily groups populated with your friends,”-- this is only partially true. As my wife (who works in the corporate world) points out, these are “vetted” groups of seasoned professionals who were vetted by the hiring process itself ; also they are often groups of seasoned professionals who, by the time they work with each other, have already had to work with others under such situations. To compare this to many of the first-year students at a typical large state university is, I think, a stretch . . . . As for Maryellen’s point—and I hear this often in defense of group work outside of the classroom, that “In the professional world, there's hardly a career where some (if not most) of the work is done in groups and not necessarily groups populated with your friends,”– this is only partially true. As my wife (who works in the corporate world) points out, these are “vetted” groups of seasoned professionals who were vetted by the hiring process itself ; also they are often groups of seasoned professionals who, by the time they work with each other, have already had to work with others under such situations. To compare this to many of the first-year students at a typical large state university is, I think, a stretch . . . .

]]> By: Matt Birkenhauer http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5566 Matt Birkenhauer Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:32:56 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5566 Of course, there are two kinds of group work: That work done in the classroom (which the teacher can monitor closely), and group projects which are assigned outside of the classroom and are ongoing. As a teacher of mostly first-year students of composition, I frequently use the first kind of group work. But I sometimes wonder if, for first-year students at least, there ought to be a moratorium on the second kind of group work, as students are still learning to be students. For those students who are not responsible, everyone in the group—including the hardworking, responsible students—get “punished" because of the slackers in the group. Of course, there are two kinds of group work: That work done in the classroom (which the teacher can monitor closely), and group projects which are assigned outside of the classroom and are ongoing. As a teacher of mostly first-year students of composition, I frequently use the first kind of group work. But I sometimes wonder if, for first-year students at least, there ought to be a moratorium on the second kind of group work, as students are still learning to be students. For those students who are not responsible, everyone in the group—including the hardworking, responsible students—get “punished" because of the slackers in the group.

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5545 Suzanne Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:57:07 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5545 I had to read this post. I have experienced both sides of the coin on this one but have not entirely thrown out the group work. I teach at the university level in a very multinational classroom. The dynamics are interesting - typical American students despise group work while the Asian, Middle Eastern, and Africans students enjoy it. Yes, there are the common complaints stated above but I have to say, it is absolutely a joy to see a group of Asian students huddled together trying to solve a problem. They do not give up until they all understand how to solve it. Group think is not part of their genre. Maybe as Americans we let our independent nature take over our sensibilities, when the group work should be seen as a learning opportunity where people share ideas, work toward a common goal, and support each other until there is deeper understanding. Needless to say, group work remains a 50/50 proposition in my classes. I had to read this post. I have experienced both sides of the coin on this one but have not entirely thrown out the group work. I teach at the university level in a very multinational classroom. The dynamics are interesting – typical American students despise group work while the Asian, Middle Eastern, and Africans students enjoy it. Yes, there are the common complaints stated above but I have to say, it is absolutely a joy to see a group of Asian students huddled together trying to solve a problem. They do not give up until they all understand how to solve it. Group think is not part of their genre. Maybe as Americans we let our independent nature take over our sensibilities, when the group work should be seen as a learning opportunity where people share ideas, work toward a common goal, and support each other until there is deeper understanding. Needless to say, group work remains a 50/50 proposition in my classes.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5542 Barbara Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:31:58 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5542 Great article review. Because I am a fairly new educator, I am interested in anyone's opinions regarding, the following question. If I want to include group work is it better to give the students some rationale for the purpose of the group work, or is it better to just assign it? Thanks Great article review. Because I am a fairly new educator, I am interested in anyone's opinions regarding, the following question. If I want to include group work is it better to give the students some rationale for the purpose of the group work, or is it better to just assign it?
Thanks

]]> By: drjeffreyp http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5539 drjeffreyp Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:47:13 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5539 Not a fan of whining me self. That said, what is the purpose of a college education? Why is it that the for profits seem to be doing so well? I think we need to decide the purpose of higher ed (and I'm OK if it's to prepare individuals for a career), then focus head long into that purpose. How many years now has the real world told us that our students were not prepared? If true, why and how can we, how should we then prepare them? Not a fan of whining me self. That said, what is the purpose of a college education? Why is it that the for profits seem to be doing so well?

I think we need to decide the purpose of higher ed (and I'm OK if it's to prepare individuals for a career), then focus head long into that purpose.

How many years now has the real world told us that our students were not prepared? If true, why and how can we, how should we then prepare them?

]]> By: shawnpatrickdoyle http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5537 shawnpatrickdoyle Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:14:50 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5537 Groups represent groupthink, but I don't think the design of group work is to come up with an answer that is not crosschecked or verified in larger discussion. Practicing working in groups in class and then coming together to talk about what you learn might even be beneficial because it can be used as an occasion to point out biases that the group forms in the process and generating strategies to get around them. I also get frustrated by the excuse that group work is preparation for the real world where they'll have to do that. I think it's based on a faulty premise that college translates to the real world directly, which it does not. Few jobs require workers to learn four different subjects and then write papers or take exams about them. There is a lot of value in college, but it's value is never as easy as it seems to be presented in the argument being that it trains you for a job. Groups represent groupthink, but I don't think the design of group work is to come up with an answer that is not crosschecked or verified in larger discussion. Practicing working in groups in class and then coming together to talk about what you learn might even be beneficial because it can be used as an occasion to point out biases that the group forms in the process and generating strategies to get around them.

I also get frustrated by the excuse that group work is preparation for the real world where they'll have to do that. I think it's based on a faulty premise that college translates to the real world directly, which it does not. Few jobs require workers to learn four different subjects and then write papers or take exams about them. There is a lot of value in college, but it's value is never as easy as it seems to be presented in the argument being that it trains you for a job.

]]> By: shawnpatrickdoyle http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5536 shawnpatrickdoyle Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:09:36 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5536 I think the point that the groups have to be a part of the instructor's repertoire is important. I have many colleagues who go into group work with an idea that students don't like it, they try it once after lecturing the whole course, and then students don't respond so they say group work doesn't work. For group work to work, students need practice at it just as they do any other skill. One point to consider responding to students' sense that group work just compounds confusion: there are some studies that show that group work can help students reach a correct answer even when both of the students get it wrong. I don't have the original source for that, but I know that Sian Bielock mentions it in her book Choke. I think the point that the groups have to be a part of the instructor's repertoire is important. I have many colleagues who go into group work with an idea that students don't like it, they try it once after lecturing the whole course, and then students don't respond so they say group work doesn't work. For group work to work, students need practice at it just as they do any other skill.

One point to consider responding to students' sense that group work just compounds confusion: there are some studies that show that group work can help students reach a correct answer even when both of the students get it wrong. I don't have the original source for that, but I know that Sian Bielock mentions it in her book Choke.

]]> By: prof. El-Bahai http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5535 prof. El-Bahai Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:19:00 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5535 thanks for all the interactions simply a patinet would not be happy with the bitter medicine till he is cured !!!!!! as doctors we have to prescripe the medicine and students like patients have to drink thanks for all the interactions
simply a patinet would not be happy with the bitter medicine till he is cured !!!!!!
as doctors we have to prescripe the medicine and students like patients have to drink

]]> By: @DrBruceJ http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5530 @DrBruceJ Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:21:42 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5530 Hello Dr. Weimer: Thank you for providing a very thoughtful post about group work. Your list of reasons why students do not like group work includes some of the top reasons I’ve heard as well. The primary objection from my students involves equal contributions by team members. Do you utilize a team contract at the start of the project? When I utilize group work I implement it as an in-class activity – to supplement the class lecture. I’ve found that it helps to engage students in the topics being discussed and many students will participate in a small group setting, rather than raise their hand during the class lecture. Plus I’ve noticed that it tends to break the ice among students, which allows them to develop a perception of being part of a larger dynamic group. I am surprised by the following in your post: “It certainly is more efficient, but the question is what kind of learning results from lecture? Too often lecture material is memorized—it hasn’t really been figured out, often it can’t be applied and regularly it’s quickly forgotten.” From my perspective, this is why I take time to learn the material prior to delivering a lecture – I want to learn and comprehend the meaning of the assigned materials so that I can apply and explain it well. This approach allows me to find relevant examples, current videos, case studies, etc. – which allow students to interact with the information in a way that they are likely to remember it. What is your approach? Dr. J Hello Dr. Weimer:

Thank you for providing a very thoughtful post about group work.

Your list of reasons why students do not like group work includes some of the top reasons I’ve heard as well. The primary objection from my students involves equal contributions by team members. Do you utilize a team contract at the start of the project? When I utilize group work I implement it as an in-class activity – to supplement the class lecture. I’ve found that it helps to engage students in the topics being discussed and many students will participate in a small group setting, rather than raise their hand during the class lecture. Plus I’ve noticed that it tends to break the ice among students, which allows them to develop a perception of being part of a larger dynamic group.

I am surprised by the following in your post:
“It certainly is more efficient, but the question is what kind of learning results from lecture? Too often lecture material is memorized—it hasn’t really been figured out, often it can’t be applied and regularly it’s quickly forgotten.”

From my perspective, this is why I take time to learn the material prior to delivering a lecture – I want to learn and comprehend the meaning of the assigned materials so that I can apply and explain it well. This approach allows me to find relevant examples, current videos, case studies, etc. – which allow students to interact with the information in a way that they are likely to remember it. What is your approach?
Dr. J

]]> By: alstoots http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5529 alstoots Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:11:28 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5529 Quite honestly, I'm growing tired of whining at the college level from students who feel things aren't being given to them that they deserve or are entitled to. They will be in for a rude awakening when they get a job in the future and the world isn't handed to them. It's time to grow up and learn how to work well, not just play well, with others. Quite honestly, I'm growing tired of whining at the college level from students who feel things aren't being given to them that they deserve or are entitled to. They will be in for a rude awakening when they get a job in the future and the world isn't handed to them. It's time to grow up and learn how to work well, not just play well, with others.

]]> By: alstoots http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5528 alstoots Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:11:14 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5528 From this article, and my experience with higher education, it sounds like students just don't like the interaction socially with their classmates. I'd be willing to bet that many students, if asked of lecture time, would have a laundry list of dislikes starting with "boring" and going to any other length. Most employees will interact in some way in group projects and we should be training students even before the college level to become comfortable with working with people who may not be friends, who may not agree, and who may not pull their own weight. Reality is, at some point in your career, you'll face one or all of those situations. The point of furthering your education is to gain the skills necessary to move forward in your career. That being the case, why shouldn't group work be a part of that training? It's a skill that needs to be mastered. From this article, and my experience with higher education, it sounds like students just don't like the interaction socially with their classmates. I'd be willing to bet that many students, if asked of lecture time, would have a laundry list of dislikes starting with "boring" and going to any other length. Most employees will interact in some way in group projects and we should be training students even before the college level to become comfortable with working with people who may not be friends, who may not agree, and who may not pull their own weight. Reality is, at some point in your career, you'll face one or all of those situations. The point of furthering your education is to gain the skills necessary to move forward in your career. That being the case, why shouldn't group work be a part of that training? It's a skill that needs to be mastered.

]]> By: My students don’t like group work [Weimer] http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/my-students-dont-like-group-work/#comment-5526 My students don’t like group work [Weimer] Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:04:58 +0000 http://www.facultyfocus.com/?p=28401#comment-5526 [...] collaboration, pedagogy, teaching & learning, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian My students don’t like group work – from Faculty Focus by Maryellen Weimer If you enjoyed this article, please consider [...] [...] collaboration, pedagogy, teaching & learning, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian My students don’t like group work – from Faculty Focus by Maryellen Weimer If you enjoyed this article, please consider [...]

]]>