• Do you like to work in group or work
individually?
• Jot down the problems when working in
groups?
Problems
• People talk more than they listen and only a few people may
contribute.
• Some members are silent and don't contribute. They may be
indifferent, bored or afraid to contribute.
• Members ideas are dismissed or even ridiculed and their
views are ignored.
• There are arguments between members of the group (as
opposed to constructive differences of opinion).
• One or two members dominate the others and make the
decisions.
• Disagreements are put to the vote without being
discussed.
• Some members are unhappy with decisions and
grumble privately afterwards.
• Little effort is made to keep to the point or to work to
deadlines.
• There is a lack of clarity regarding goals and specific
tasks are not agreed.
• Roles are not delegated to particular team members.
• There is a lack of trust and helpfulness.
• Members don't talk about how the group is working
or the problems it faces.
Responsibility and Respect
• Be responsible not to a teacher, but to their peers.
• Be more respectful and patient with others as they
work through a problem together.
Improving Social Skills
• Provide shy students an opportunity to interact with
people they may not have interacted with otherwise.
• Encourage listening as much as participation.
Group Control
• at least one bright or aggressive student that will
attempt to take control of the group. assign
roles to the members in the groups
Coasting
• Lazy students can ride the group's work without
making a major contribution.
Allow students to grade other members in their
group.
COLLABORATION: coming together to
work toward a common vision
Study independently
Active learners... Passive learners...
• Prepare for lectures and • Arrive in time but with no
tutorials preparation
• Learn by rote (memorising without
• Learn by thinking analytically real understanding)
• Question (overtly or in the • Do not question the lecturer or
head) tutor—just accept that what he/she
• Consider the broad picture says is right
• Focus on details (eg ‘What does this
(relate details to whole) word mean?)
• Take notes and think • Copy sections of the textbook and
analytically while reading reproduce them in essays and exams
• Participate actively in tutorials • Sit quietly and think about other
things in tutorials
• Discuss your subjects with • Never talk about your subjects
other people • Copy all the information from
• Take brief notes in lectures overheads / transcribe full text of the
lecture from a tape
Study independently
• organising your notes
• preparing for lectures and tutorials by reading ahead
and answering tutorial questions
• revising your lecture notes and making sure you
understand the key concepts
• making concept maps of the material covered in the
course
• preparing assignments
• searching for relevant information
• reading and making notes
• preparing for exams
