Later in this module, there will be a detailed description of how one instructor implements group work in their online classes.

What is your purpose for using groups?

Is your goal more manageable discussions? Regular collaborative group assignment submissions? A major end of the term project or presentation? This will help determine the appropriate composition, size, and longevity of your groups.

How will you form your groups?

Groups can be created by instructors (for specific assignments or tasks) or by students (study groups for example). For instructor created groups, students can be randomly assigned, manually assigned by the instructor, or they can even self-select from groups after the instructor has created them.

What would be the best size for your groups?

Think about the maximum and minimum number of students you would like in each group. For Discussion groups, you might want 6 to 10 for a robust conversation. For collaborative group assignment submissions, you might want 3 to 6 students. Keep in mind that groups have the potential to shrink over the course of a quarter when some students drop the class. If you allow students to self-select - you might need to combine two groups that are low in numbers after groups are formed.

How can you hold students accountable for contributing work to the group?

In a discussion group, each student is responsible for their own replies. In a project group, do you assign each member of the group with a certain responsibility or roll? Do you let them self-manage their workload? Do you give the students opportunities to affirm the level of engagement of the other group members? A specific example of one technique for this is provided on the next page of this module.

How often do you plan to change group members?

For an end-of-term project group, you would clearly keep the same group for the whole term. For Discussion groups, you could choose to mix the groups up a few times a quarter without too much disruption. For collaborative submissions, keep in mind that it will take some time for groups to acclimate to each other, so be intentional with how often you mix up the groups and allow time for that acclimating.

Here are some other resources for designing great Group Work:

Ideas for Great Group Work - Duke University

Best practices for designing group projects - Carnegie Melon University