Collaborative Learning
How to Ensure Group Accountability
Grouping Techniques
Assign each each team member a role
Grade the performance of the group and each team member
Observe the interactions and discussions of each group
Have students complete a reflection of what went well in the group and what can be improved upon
Homogenous (Same Ability Grouping)
Heterogenous (Mixed Ability)
Teacher-Choice
Student-Choice
Random
Con: Assigned role may not be the person's strength and/or you will have varying levels of effort put into each role
Pro: Everyone has a job to do
Pro: Everyone will be accountable
Con: Group grades can either boost a noncontributing student's grade or adversely affect a hardworking student's group grade
Pro: You can get a sense of group dynamic and who may be overburdened or along for a free ride
Con: Students will often be on their best behavior when the teacher is watching**
Pro: Students can provide feedback for the teacher's eyes only to critique how it went
Con: Students will conflate their own performance or may have an ax to grind with another student regardless of how he/she performed in the group.
Pro:Benefits Low and Middle Performing Students the most
Con: May Impede Gifted Students From Making Strides in their Education
Pro: Homogenous grouping and cluster grouping has shown to greatly benefit gifted students
Con: Has been shown to negatively impact performance of lower achieving students
Pro: Best for guided instrction and collaborative learning
Con:Students may feel exercise, activity or assignment is more of a chore
Pro:Best for longer, outside of class assignments. Students feel they have some control and can pick people they like to work with
Con: The groupings may lead to less focus, becoming off-task if students work with their friends.
Pro: Good for discussions, book clubs and the sharing of ideas; good way for students to get to know each other
Con:No consideration was made based on ability so some students may feel taken advantage of or overly burdened