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First Year Research Experience (FYRE) Support Guide for Research Coaches

Facilitating Group Work

Facilitating effective group work can be challenging for both research coaches and students.  Here are some resources that provide tips on navigating group work.

The following pdf (adapted from the University of Waterloo) outlines strategies on the following group work topics:

  1. preparing for group work
  2. introducing the group activity
  3. monitoring the group task
  4. group decision making
  5. ending the group task

The last page of the handout above outlines five basic elements of cooperative learning.   Cooperative learning "involves more than students working together on a lab or field project. It requires teachers to structure cooperative interdependence among the students. These structures involve five key elements which can be implemented in a variety of ways. There are also different types of cooperative groups appropriate for different situations" (source).

To learn more, consult this video on cooperative learning from the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching & Learning.

Student Resources

The library has great resources for effective student group work including:

Students who are working collaboratively are encouraged to book a group study room at the University Library.

Students are also encouraged to review the technology tools in the Collaborating section in the library's "Learning with Technology Toolkit".