With extracts from Trinity College Dublin (2014) ‘Managing Group work’ presentation Group work “Team Player” Student Learning

1.Get to know each other 2.Clarify the task 3.Set ground rules Three steps to success: Learning outcomes

What are the issues you’ve previously experienced in completing groupwork? Group Brainstorm

Meeting in a circle is great for group dynamics The first meeting is vital 1.Get to know each other 2.Clarify the task 3.Set ground rules Three steps to success

Split into three groups. Group 1): Ideas for how to get to know each other. Group 2): What can we do to clarify the task? Group 3): What ground rules for the group are important? Activity

Open and positive attitude; set the tone Introductions: –Identify special interests and skills –Maybe try an icebreaker (e.g. must find 10 things everyone has in common with each other not related to work) –Get everyone talking Master list of contact details (Hand-out 1) Step 1: Getting to know your group

Task Analysis: –Analyse the brief –What is the expected final output? –Final deadline? –Brainstorming Written summary of task analysis –Divide the work amongst different people –Task manager appointed to ensure people working independently Step 2: Clarifying the task

–Research 3 key areas and provide 3 key points for each. Deadline 1/3/15. Barrier to inclusive profession for non-nationals (Ian) Barrier to children with SEN (Emma) Non-relevance of language to ethnic minority groupings (Mark) –Proof read everyone’s input (all group members). Deadline 3/3/15 –Prepare slide show (Aoife). Deadline 5/3/15. –Present the powerpoint to group (Aoife). Deadline 7/3/15. –Task Manager: Mark Title: As a team, prepare and present a fifteen minute powerpoint presentation to argue for the motion that ‘The compulsory teaching of Irish in primary schools is a threat to inclusive education.’ Task Summary

1.Group members’ expectations of each other 2.Meetings: how often and where? 3.Staying in contact 4.Leader: permanent, rotating, none? 5.Decision on how to reach agreement in meetings – consensus? Majority rules? See hand-out 2 Step 3: Ground rules

Agenda (see Hand-out 3) Possible roles: –Chair/Facilitator –Record/note-taker (see Hand-out 4) –Time-keeper –Task Manager Deadline points Agreed actions Making meetings work

Tom Tom does all the ing and texting to sort group meetings. At the meetings he takes the lead and tends to push his ideas forward and argues with everyone else’s ideas. He tells people to do different tasks as if he is the boss. Tina Tina is frequently late for group meetings. When she gets there she is often on her phone and just nods with what everyone else says. She doesn’t volunteer to do work and has yet to produce anything for the group. People can be so difficult…

People related problemsProcess related problems Members who dominateNo agreed ground rules Members who don’t contributeNo agendas for meetings Talking not listeningNo specific roles or tasks Ideas dismissed or ridiculedNo set deadlines No-one initiating discussionNo chairperson for meetings Members isolated or ignoredMeetings start or run late Lack of leadershipNo meeting records kept Unreliable membersNo review of progress Potential Problems

If problems cannot be resolved within the group, talk to your lecturer/tutor Get by with a little help….

Further resources

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Link with skills

1.Get to know each other 2.Clarify the task 3.Set ground rules Three steps to success: Learning outcomes

Learn Higher Episode 1 – the first meeting [Online]. Available from [Accessed 28 August 2014] Skills4Study Campus Groupwork and presentations [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 28 August 2014]. Trinity College Dublin Managing groupwork [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 28 August 2014]. References