Teaching Students
It is difficult for teachers to design and implement group work effectively, and it is difficult for students to foster the group process, especially if they do not have the skills to
make effective use of group work. Many students have never worked in a group before or
lack the skills to work with others. Instructors cannot assume that students know how to
work together, structure time, or delegate tasks. There are several ways that instructors
can help.
First, the instructor should make certain that each student understands the assignment.
Students should know the purpose of the project, the learning objective, and the skills that
need to be developed through group work. Successful group work is easier if the students
know how the assignment relates to the course content and what the final product is supposed to be (Davis, 1993).
Second, the instructor needs to reinforce listening skills and the proper methods to give
and receive constructive criticism. These skills can be discussed in class and modeled
during class activities. Some faculty use various exercises that are geared toward helping
students gain skills to work in groups (Fiechtner & Davis, 1992). Small in-class group
activities help reinforce cohesion and group unity.