Making Group Work Better: Tips and Techniques for Facilitating Interaction

Andrea StoneSenior Instructional Designer, Enogex

Online Instructor, University of Central Oklahoma

Agenda

• Why should you use group projects?

• What tools should you use?

• Wisdom from group project veterans

Why do you use (or want to use) group projects in your classes?

Why use group projects?

• Reduce grading

• Get better work

• Facilitate transformative learning

• Foster connections

• Positive peer pressure

What tools should students use?

• Screen Sharing – Join.me or Google Hangout

• Video Chat – FaceTime or Skype or Google Hangout

• Papers – Wikis or Google Docs

• Presentations – Google Presentations

• Creative – MixBook for Educators

• Social Media – Facebook or Twitter

Screen Sharing

Video Chat

http://www.marismith.com/ten-reasons-googleplus-hangouts/#

Papers

Presentations

Creative

Social Media

Wisdom from group project veterans:

Assignment Directions

For this project you will meet with your group and present a solution for

the case study in chapter 7. It is due on July 10, 2012. Work with your group to

complete the project.

Putting Students into Groups

Some ideas…

• Geographically (if they will meet)

• Online Only or Meet Face to Face

• Based on the time they are available to meet

• Work style (last minute vs. work ahead)

• Topic based

• Major based

• MBTI Type based (same or complimentary?)

• Other ideas?

Get them talking!

• Integrate group communication into your online course.

– Communication tools in your LMS

– Additional methods described earlier

• Remind them to talk.

• Provide early, low-credit opportunities to practice collaboration.

Track and Monitor Participation

Track and Monitor Participation

• Check on the communication tools you have provided.

• Ask to be cc’d on emails.

• Use project development formats with tracking like Google Docs, Google Presentations, and Wiki’s with versioning.

• Stagger deadlines to boost ongoing participation and interaction.

Have a Group Divorce Policy in Place…Just in Case

• Under what conditions?• By unanimous or majority?• How does the group notify the kickee

and the instructor?• How are grades earned by the group

and the individual?• Are there penalties for being kicked out?• Is there a deadline?

Group Feedback

Group Feedback

• Allow the group to determine part of the grade

• Preserve anonymity

• Ask behavioral questions

• Use survey tool. Example at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VMZLPBJ.

Visual Knowledge Check

Making Group Work Better: Tips and Techniques for Facilitating Interaction

Andrea Stone

Senior Instructional Designer, Enogex

andrea.stone@enogex.com

View the presentation and related links online at

http://AndreaStone.pbworks.com