Based on my experience in the classroom as a lecturer, I’ve seen how group work can either yield brilliant results or fail dismally.
What makes the difference in these groups? What is the success or failure based on?
We can site all the varying theories or discuss the different points of view on this topic. What is comes down to in the end is to what degree (extent) the members in the group agree to WANT to work together.
When each member is given a task, then the separate tasks put together to produce the final product, that is group work.
But if the group members make the conscious decision to collaborate; to build on each others’ ideas and not need the recognition for individual contribution – then it becomes teamwork.
Collaboration requires commitment – of resources, time, to the rest of the team and to the process.
Collaboration is a process, it requires the member to be OK with not being OK. They need to be accepting of each others’ and their own limitations and strengths. There must be a willingness to experience some discomfort – for if we are in our comfort zone, we are not open to learning.
The challenge, of course, is to help the students see the benefits and value in collaborative learning. Where everyone has an idea that can be built on. The collaborative brain is always better than any individual brain. Together, group members can fill the gaps (blind spots) of the others in the group.
An additional challenge, in the context of my experience, is that group members do not have the resources (usually financial) to meet to collaborate outside of their normal class time. Whether face to face or online – additional time and or data costs need to be considered. In most cases, class time is usually allocated for the members to meet and discuss.
We firstly would need to coach / mentor our students through the process of collaboration that will be most beneficial for the group. We cannot expect that collaboration will automatically happen. It is a process. It the responsibility of the educator to guide our students and help them to facilitate this process.
When the entire group is committed to the process, only then can true team collaboration take place.
