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2. Create groups in Blackboard Learn. Select group members based on your course outcomes. Select the right group tools based on the group deliverables. Prepare students for group work and encourage participation. Address student concerns about group work and ensure success. OBJECTIVES

3. Add here or delete slide Add here CONTACT INFO

4. BENEFITS OF GROUP WORK Students retain information longer than with other teaching methods. Perspectives from group members offer another opportunity to learn new material. Students have a positive feeling about the course material. Students who establish good relationships with their peers have a more positive learning experience. Successful group work leads to students feeling better about themselves. Students increase their social and communication skills. Students increase their critical thinking skills.

5. PRESENTING GROUPS

6. TOUR THE GROUPS PAGE

7. TOUR THE ALL USERS PAGE

8. In Olivia’s teacher education course, online students create lesson plans that incorporate a unifying theme across different subject areas. Olivia divides her students into groups, each with a designated country as the theme. IN ACTION

9. Blogs Collaboration, in chat or the virtual classroom Discussion board Email File exchange Journals Tasks Wikis GROUP COMMUNICATION TOOLS

10. ACCESS THE GROUPS TOOL

11. BEST PRACTICE Selecting Group Members Size : Try creating groups with at least four members. Manually assign members : Assign members to groups to ensure heterogeneity or diversity. Randomly assign members : May work best for instructors who teach courses containing many students—without the opportunity to know them individually. Self-enrollment : Allows students to add themselves to a group using a sign-up sheet.

12. TRY IT Use your Practice Course to explore the groups tool.

13. How can I encourage ALL members to participate ? How do I let my presence be known ? How do I provide access to resources ? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

14. TRY IT Use your Practice Course to edit and manage groups.

15. BEST PRACTICE You can use technology to faciltate group work.

16. To learn more, visit help.blackboard.com and access the Course Groups folder. WRAP UP