Group work is an essential part of classroom pedagogy. It teaches students to collaborate together and accomplish their assigned role/work on time and completed. After students graduate from school and enter the work force they are going to have to work with other people; learn how to deal with different opinions, personalities and how to take advice. Students do plenty of individualistic work in school; they must expand their horizons and learn how to work together on a project. I know, from my own experience, that group can be challenging. I like to work independently; I get the job done how I like it and when I like to do it. In group work that all changes; students must complete work on a set time schedule that the whole group agrees on together. It is challenging! I think that is the purpose of group work.
As a teacher students will receive two grades during group work: an overall group grade and an individual grade based on the amount of work they accomplished throughout the project. The intensity of group work will vary in my classroom. Some days I divide the class into groups of four or five. Each group will receive a primary source reading on the topic of today's lesson. A member(s) of the group will share what the document states and why we are studying it today. Other days students will be assigned projects in groups. It requires multiple lesson days with research on computers, presentations, posters, essays, collages, etc. Students will be assigned specific roles and must accomplish their task or it will hurt the whole groups progress through the assignment. I want my classroom to have a variance of individual and group work, in order to meet the needs of my students; expand their knowledge base and learning techniques.
I think it is good to give both an individual grade and a group grade. That way, students are not penalized if the other people in the group are not participating. It will also encourage everyone to participate because they are being graded indivdually. However, this could also make someone dominate the group's work in an attempt to get a better individual grade.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you guys, I said the same thing. I think giving an individual grade provides extra incentive for students to perform to expectations but it also provides a safety net for those who contribute to cover other peoples work.
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