Prior to lab discussion topics:
1) What is, and how do you make, a web
page?
Create
and View a Web Page on Your Computer
2) Group skills discussion
Groups are a tool. Like any tool they can do helpful, neutral,
or unhelpful things. The goal of our group projects is to learn
skills that allow us to increase the helpfulness of groups,
while also learning skills that help us decrease the unhelpful
elements of groups.
Increasing group helpfulness skills:
1) Collaboration is good for coding.
We're
Teaching Coding All Wrong
2) Many things are commonly reported as helpful aspects of
group work such as listed on this web site:
Eberly
Center - Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation
3) One way to increase group helpfulness is to follow a
procedure when starting a group project like the procedure
listed on the following web site:
Stages
in group work
4) How to feel comfortable in group.
How
to overcome anxiety and be great at group work
Decreasing group unhelpful elements:
Just as important is decreasing the unhelpful elements of
groups. Below are some of the most reported problems with
groups:
Problems:
- Group members who do not fulfill their part. This makes
other group members do extra work.
- Group members who do fraudulent or plagiarized work. This
makes other group members redo the work or face potential
disciplinary consequences.
Potential Solution:
- When the group project is being assigned, when all members
of the group (class) are present, ask what the policies are
for such incidences. If such policies are in place they
should be clearly stated in front of the class and posted
somewhere so they can be accessed at a later date. This way
every group member knows what the ramification is for not
fulfilling their duties in regard to the group project, and
every group member has a clear path to following in case an
unfortunate situation arises. Unfortunately, many group
project creators do not have such policies. If they do not
have them in place then it is OK to ask them to create and
distribute such policies.
- Here is an article about setting up groups: Setting
Up Effective Group Work
Problem:
- A group member is very dominate and does not allow good
group discussions and dynamics to develop.
Potential Solution:
- How
to Manage a Dominating Personality on Your Team
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