Groups need to be self-reflective about the working of their
own group.
• Have explicit discussions about these skills and how to improve
them.
• Have the students write periodic journals on their group experience.
This enables them to reflect on what is working well or poorly and
it also provides feedback to the instructor on the performance of
the group.
• Instructors should model all these skills in every interaction
with students. This is very important because students are watching
you closely and will take many of their behavioral cues from what
you do and not what you say they should do!
• Ask each group to list at least three actions that helped
the group be successful.
• Ask group to list one action that would have made the group
even more successful.
• Make regular assessments of group dynamics. The group members
are asked to self-assess how well the group is functioning. The instructor
can also assess the working of the group.
• Get the group to agree right at the beginning to working rules
amongst themselves as to how work is to be divided, performed, shared,
reported, and written.
• Ensure that group processing times do not degenerate into
gripe sessions where some members simply vent their irritations with
others. This can be done by groups establishing ground rules that
criticisms should not be phrased negatively but as positive suggestions.
i.e., in the form of statements such as "Perhaps you might try
doing it this way" instead of ‘"I wish you'd stop
doing this."
Getting group processing started
In order to start the process of group processing and to increase
the awareness of students of the importance of taking early steps
to ensure good interactions, I give them the following assignment
as soon as the groups are formed:
Each group must have a private meeting with me within the next two
weeks. The meeting will last about 10-15 minutes. Please discuss as
a group and bring with you typed responses to the following:
- Based on your past experiences with group work, what do you think
are the factors that lead to the successful functioning of a group?
- How would you ensure that the conditions stated in response to
question 1 are present in your current group?
- Make a list of the things that an individual in a group should
do in order that the group can work harmoniously and productively.
You will be expected to use this list when evaluating (as a group)
the contributions of each member to the group.
- How would you deal with a group member who is behaving in a manner
not beneficial to the smooth working of the group (i.e., by not
attending group meetings, by being hostile to one or more members,
by not doing their share of the work, not showing responsibility,
etc.)?
Before you come for the meeting with me, each member should also
have read the guidelines
for effective group work.
