"Students can learn as much, or even more, from their peers as from their teachers, but the help students can give to each other is a severely under-utilised resource in higher education."
                                                       Boud (1981, p14)

Every student is expected to work in a group at some stage during their studies at Lincoln University. The experience may be a short-term arrangement within a lecture, laboratory or tutorial, a long-term project team that stays together for a whole semester, or even an informal study group that spans courses and continues from year to year.
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There are many benefits to be gained through these experiences, but we must remember that there is nothing magical about putting students together in small groups. Group activities will only realise their potential for enhancing learning insofar as we, the teachers, are able to design realistic goals, assist students to develop the necessary teamwork and interpersonal skills and encourage the sort of environment in which students will share ideas and learn from each other.

 

This resource is a collection of ideas about group work and how we can maximise its effectiveness for student learning. It includes examples of good practice from staff at Lincoln University to illustrate many of the principles raised. Whether you consult sections systematically or dip into the collection through the FAQs, we hope it will stimulate thought about how you use group work in your course and assist your planning for future developments.

Developed by Cathy Sherpa
Copyright © Lincoln University 2000