Teamwork is essential in today’s corporate environment yet many institutions do not offer it within online courses due to inherent challenges. Participants of this interactive session will learn effective methods of implementing successful group work in online courses and leave with practical points to go for faculty and course designers.
Extended Abstract (max 1500 words)
There are so many good reasons to not incorporate group work into online courses. It can be challenging for students and faculty; it can take more work than traditional one-to-one assignments; it can be perceived as unfair by students; the list is endless. Research supports the resistance of online group work (Chang & Kang, 2016; Rezaei, 2017). But the reality is that the same challenges are often experienced in the corporate environment and it’s important that students learn how to navigate the dynamics of working within a group to be successful in their careers.
Group work can be a positive learning experience for both students and faculty but it requires forward-design thinking and planning. This session will review strategies and best practices for faculty specific to planning, implementing and evaluating online group work. The session will support the following learning outcomes:
- Brief review of challenges with online group work
- Examine strategies for planning online group work
- Analyze best practices for implementing online group work
- Consider methods of evaluation for online group work
Presenters will engage the audience in dialogue about the challenges of online group work before outlining best practices for planning, implementing and evaluating online group work. Attendees will participate in interactive discussions and brainstorming sessions with their colleagues as part of the presentation. Attendees will walk away with a handout of Practical Points-To-Go for engaging students in online group work, a critical skill in today’s corporate environment.
References:
Chang, B. and Kang, H. (2016). Challenges facing group work online. Distance Education, 37 (1), 73-88.
Razei, R. (2017). Features of successful group work in online and physical courses. The Journal of Effective Teaching, 17 (3), 5-22.