Whether you teach a large class or a mixed-ability class, or any class, if you want to help your students improve their learning and critical skills and have a happy experience of being in a class, if you want to promote collaborative learning, you should then try group work if you are not already doing so. What are the benefits?

Working in a group is a plus for any student, whether he/she is a brilliant or average student because it is a normal situation in everyday life. We all depend on one another in one way or another. We need others to reach our full potential. Research has shown that group work allows students to:

● Learn more of what is being taught and retain it longer

● Work on a project that may be too large or complex for an individual

● Bring up a whole array of alternative points of view or solutions to a problem

● Bring the knowledge, experience or skills resulting from their different backgrounds to a project and share their culture with others

● Have the opportunity of teaching each other and learning from each other

● Speak in a small group if they are shy and will not speak in front of the whole class and thus get a chance to participate in class

● Overcome the anonymity and passivity that sometimes result from a large class

However, group work is often shunned by teachers because they may lose direct control over the learning process and fear indiscipline. This is possible if group work is not set up according to certain rules. But, carefully designed, it can become an enjoyable experience of teaching and learning for both teacher and students. For group work to be successful the activities must be carefully planned well in advance.

The purpose of group work and the learning goals expected have to be clearly stated. This will take time in the beginning and you have to be prepared. First, you will have to explain to your students how the process is going to work. Make sure that they become familiar with collaborative learning and are comfortable with the process.

Explain clearly the goals of group work: Why they will be working together; what they are expected to accomplish. Discuss the planning with them and suggest ways of breaking down the task into smaller units, of sharing responsibility for different aspects of the work, of appointing a group leader, and provide a suggested timeline for the work to be completed and how it will be assessed.

Next week, we?ll discuss another aspect of group work.