Groupies

James, Tony, and Tim; Sarah, Ariel, and Nura. Today groups of three, with boys and girls in separate groups. Tomorrow, perhaps, groups of four integrated, but self-selected. Next week, random groups of four with defined roles and a clear assignment. For a discovery lesson, groups of three with only a question defined. Group work can prove an effective way of learning. It can also prove to be an effective way of avoiding work.

The most common difficulty with group work is common grading on a common outcome. It is almost impossible to provide that kind of lesson without hearing from at least one parent about the unfairness of anything but an individual grade for individual work. I've always found that intriguing, since very few of us work in jobs where we are not evaluated or rewarded to a greater or lesser extent on how we work together in teams to reach a common goal or product.

While a great deal of research and theory has become available in the last few years that promotes the concept of certain learning by gender segregation, it often works better for the boys than the girls. Girl groups too often end up in long gossip sessions. I know how that sounds, but come to my class and observe.

Another observation that has only become clearer over the years, is that without a great deal of structure, groups tend to accomplish very little. It seems as though students are more social than previously, but less able to work socially.

It isn't often that one student will bear the burden of the group for a grade. I've found, at least with my students, that anyone who tries to free ride on the work of others in the group is quickly called to task or ratted out.

At any rate, the current fad is group work, group work, group work. The balance, I think, has tipped too much toward that style of learning. It is an important part of any classroom learning and teaching, but it also has significant drawbacks, not the least of which is the greater amount of time that groupwork tends to take, and the great range of quality in the work that is accomplished. But the group groupies in education tend to only see the benefits.