The document discusses group work and identifies some of the key issues students have with it. It notes that while group work is meant to be a valuable instructional strategy, it is often loathed by students. Some of the main problems identified include unclear roles and expectations, lack of structure, issues with participation and accountability. The document explores strategies to address these issues, such as defining roles and using project management tools to provide structure. It also references other resources that discuss strategies for improving group work experiences.

1. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Pre event activity
From my experience, group work is a
valuable instructional strategy.
Strongly agree ...........agree .............neutral...............disagree ........... Strongly disagree
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2. Dreaded
Group Work Revisted
presented 23 November, 2013
at Emirates College of Technology, Abu Dhabi
by
James Buckingham
Education Technologist / Instructor
◦
auh.jimb@gmail.com
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3. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
•
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
student perceptions
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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4. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
Examine group work.
• Goal
Q - Why is it loathed so much?
• Problem stated
Q - What your peers are saying?
•
• Key issues identified Q - What can we do about it?
•
Q - How can IT tools help?
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
student perceptions
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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5. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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6. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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7. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
•
• Problem stated
Goal
Why Group Projects Suck (by imahs17)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/50BEtHUTDCQ
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8. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
Episode 20 - Group Projects (by ThePennyProductions)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/tMpZ0uAjJMg?t=36s
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9. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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10. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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11. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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12. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
I hate group projects (Amanda Lynn Cameron)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/kbo6ViYOt8A
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13. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
What Are The Concerns About Group Work? (tvoparents)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/dLHbIVZjkmI
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14. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Activity
What are the 5 most important issues
with GroupWork?
Placemat - think, pair, share
1) answer the question on your section of the placemat
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15. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Activity
What are the 5 most important issues
with GroupWork?
Placemat - think, pair, share
1) answer the question on your section of the placemat
2) review & discuss the answers of your group
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16. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Activity
What are the 5 most important issues
with GroupWork?
Placemat - think, pair, share
1) answer the question on your section of the placemat
2) review & discuss the answers of your group
3) create a top 5 list of answers in the middle box
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17. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Activity
What are the 5 most important issues
with GroupWork?
Placemat - think, pair, share
1) answer the question on your section of the placemat
2) review & discuss the answers of your group
3) create a top 5 list of answers in the middle box
4) report on your list with the rest of us
5 answers
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18. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
Key issues with group
work?
roles
expectations
interpersonal skills
structure
participation
accountability
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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19. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
TVO - What is the Role of the Teacher in Group Work?
(tvoparents)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/zVGZEMmrQe0
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20. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
•
• Problem stated
Goal
TVO - What is Cooperative Learning? (tvoparents)
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://youtu.be/ZD6HpOAucdQ
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21. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
Key issues with group
work?
roles
expectations
interpersonal skills
structure
participation
accountability
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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22. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
Structure &
accountability with
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
Etherpad
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http://youtu.be/X_SO7K6ef6g
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23. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
http://buckinsand.titanpad.com/289
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24. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
Structure &
accountability with
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
Trello
http://youtu.be/Nm-mCFi-8zE
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25. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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26. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
26
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27. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Table of Contents
• Goal
• Problem stated
• student perceptions
• parent perceptions (?)
• Key issues identified
•
• Key strategies to overcome
these issues
experts
• experts
• How tech tools can help
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28. .... whether you realize it or not,
no matter what field you’re going into and
what job you want,
.... you will be working with other people for
the rest of your lives.
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29. Less Dreaded
Group Work Now ?
presented 23 November, 2013
at Emirates College of Technology, Abu Dhabi
by
James Buckingham
Education Technologist / Instructor
◦
auh.jimb@gmail.com
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30. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Bibliography
Better Than Google Docs - Etherpad Alternatives. (2010). Retrieved from http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ-pC37uwD8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Boise State University. (2013, September 24). Online Group Work. The Blue Blog. Retrieved
from http://ecampus.boisestate.edu/students/2013/09/24/online-group-work/
Burdett, J. (2003). Making Groups Work: University Students’ Perceptions. International
Education Journal, 4(3), 177–191.
Chastaine, Z. (2013, February 28). Buckin-A: Group work is a waste of time. The Arbiter.
Retrieved from http://arbiteronline.com/2013/02/28/buckin-a-group-work-is-a-waste-of-time/
Does “Group Work” Work? : Is It the Best Way for Children to Learn? (2010). Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdt-b4yMp-M&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Episode 20 - Group Projects. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=tMpZ0uAjJMg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Etherpad Basic Explanation. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hYQ8oY0_DxY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I Hate Group Projects. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=kbo6ViYOt8A&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Kriflik, L., & Mullan, J. (2007). Strategies to Improve Student Reaction to Group Work. Journal
of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 4(1). Retrieved from http://jutlp.uow.edu.au/
2007_v04_i01/pdf/kriflik_009.pdf
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31. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Bibliography
Lawday, R. (2013, April 18). Why I hate group projects. MacLeans.ca / on campus. Retrieved
from http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2013/04/18/why-i-hate-group-projects/
Quick Introduction to Etherpad. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=X_SO7K6ef6g&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Robinson, A. (2012, December). Trello Collaboration and Innovation. PowerPoint, Zayed
University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Rubistar. (n.d.). Create Rubrics for your Project Based Learning Activities. Teachers.org.
Retrieved from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?
screen=CustomizeTemplate&bank_rubric_id=15&section_id=6&
says, L. W. (n.d.). In Defense of Group Work. The Flâneur’s Turtle. Retrieved November 22,
2013, from http://theflaneursturtle.com/2013/10/03/in-defense-of-group-work/
Snapshot. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://theflaneursturtle.com/2013/10/03/in-defense-of-groupwork/
Trello Tip #1: “Why is Trello So Useful?” #NowPlaying on Grovo.com. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 22, 2013, from http://www.grovo.com/trello/introduction-to-trello
Weimer, M. (2008, July 1). Why Students Hate Groups. The Teaching Professor. Retrieved from
http://www.teachingprofessor.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/why-students-hate-groups
What Are The Concerns About Group Work? (2010). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=dLHbIVZjkmI&feature=youtube_gdata_player
What is the Role of the Teacher in Group Work? (2010). Retrieved from http://
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVGZEMmrQe0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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32. Dreaded Group Work Revisted
Bibliography
White, L. (n.d.). Students hate group assignments. TheAustralian. Retrieved November 12,
2013, from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/this-campus-life/students-hategroup-assignments/story-fnhuzyzf-1226734939499
Who Doesn’t Hate Group Work? (n.d.). On the Tenure Track. Retrieved November 22, 2013,
from http://awaitingtenure.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/group-work-can-be-easy-filler/
Why Group Projects Suck. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=50BEtHUTDCQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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