I did not have good experiences with group work as a teacher education major. It seems that every time I was paired with someone or assigned to a group, there would always be issues with scheduling or getting everyone to pull his or her weight.
As if it were yesterday, I remember a specific incident in which I was paired with another student. We were to create a thematic unit rooted in whole language which was a big topic in the early ‘90s. My partner somehow never found the library or my dorm room—the places we agreed to meet—until the night before the assignment was due.
With no shame, she knocked on my door and boldly asked what I needed her to do. I could not believe her audacity, but I played along and told her what section (that I had already completed) that she would present. She sighed with relief and made no attempt to apologize for contributing absolutely nothing to the assignment. She offered no explanation for why she had not shown up for our scheduled planning sessions. She just stood there as if everything was “okie dokie” and that is when I knew what I had to do.
The very next day, we presented in class. Things went fairly well and by fairly well I mean that I am sure none of my classmates suspected that she had not contributed to the project at all. She explained the small section I had issued to her, seamlessly. It was acting at its best. I gave her the script and she performed. The class applauded, more students presented, and class ended; but I decided to go to my professor after class and tell her the truth. I just could not stand by and let my “partner” earn the same grade or any grade for that matter when I had worked so diligently on the unit.
To my surprise, when I revealed to my professor that I had done all of the work, she responded, “I know, Kellie,” in her Middle Eastern accent which I loved. She smiled at me and assured me that I would be the only one getting credit for that project and that she would be scheduling a conference with my partner to discuss the situation.
Now that was an example of a troubling past with group work, but I must say that when I went to graduate school, group work was joy. I participated in a book club that met during the last 45 minutes of a literacy course. We went on to present our book to the class in such a creative way. I also participate in other group experiences and those where I had a partner and I enjoyed them all. Perhaps, it was that as graduate students, learning was taken more seriously. All I know is that not once did I encounter a situation where my group members or partners did not do their jobs and make their contributions.
Fast forward to today and I have been including group work in online courses for 13 of the 16 years that I have taught online and I can count on one hand the number of times that group members have been slack….seriously, on one hand. It is utterly amazing when you think about it because group experiences lay the foundation for 90% of the courses that I teach which equates to thousands of students in 13 years.
As I have shared in the series that I am doing on group experiences in online college courses right now on YouTube, a system, training, and definitive group roles have led to the success of my students in this area; but the secret sauce that I believe has led to students having a different level of respect for group work has been the minutes secretary which I call the reporter.
There is something about this role that conveys the message that we are to take this group work very seriously because Ms. Alston is keeping tabs on what we do and how well we do it. I must say that I like the power laid within that message. But, more importantly, I like the fact that it inspires students to honor themselves while honoring each other during the group experience.
Robert’s Rules of Order…remember that high standard of how to conduct meetings? Taking minutes is all a part of the process. Perhaps, if my undergraduate professor had required us to take minutes when we met and to submit them to her after the meeting, my partner would have received the message that her actions were not acceptable.
Watch this video to learn the purpose and responsibilities of the reporter as well as the four components of the minutes form that ensures that students know:
- We are an official organization within this course.
- Our instructor cares about us.
- Negligence will not be tolerated.
Enjoy and feel free to share your comments. I would love to know about the kind of experiences you have had with group work.