Working Together
Whether you’re business partners, a sports team, or a band, some of the best work is created when two or more brains work together.
The same thing goes for learning.
Group work, well, works. And when it works especially well, you feel valued and inspired and confident that you and your teammates are giving your best. You learn more – and better – in a team, whether it’s in class, a study group, or club.
Group learning offers opportunities to:
- hear different perspectives
- bounce ideas off others
- improve your communication skills
- pool your knowledge and expertise with others
- learn to justify your position with reasons
- get feedback from someone other than your instructor
- discuss difficult topics and mediate disagreements
- hone your public speaking skills – especially during those end-of-quarter presentations
- develop your own voice, in relation to your peers
When the Group isn’t a Team
We’ve all been there – stuck in a group that isn’t working for one reason or another. When a group isn’t working effectively, it’s difficult to make progress and your ability to succeed is impaired. What to do? Take action – don’t let your learning suffer.
Try the following suggestions:
- Name the problem. Let your group members know that you think the group isn’t working as effectively as it could. Tell them (politely) what you think the problem is, and offer (or ask for) suggestions on how to fix it. (Here’s a list of Resources
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