Introduction: Let the students work in groups

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Latest revision: 2022-01-26

 

There’s a lot of positive things with solving tasks togheter in group. Here the students get the possibility to discuss and solve tasks with other student, that brings different experiences, abilities, and knowledge that can contribute to learning.

 As described on the page Collaborative learning group assignments are an important part of learning and needs to be given the right prerequisites ton work e.g. creating a good connection in the group.

 

Group composition

In Canvas you can create groups automatically or manually. You can also create groups with self sign-up. How you put the groups together is important to keep in mind, as several studies show that many students find it difficult when they have to create groups themselves. They may experience that they end up left out or always in the group with those who were not selected by any other group. As a teacher, you can ease this by creating the groups.

During a pedagogical conversation at Karlstad University, the problem surrounding teachers that let students themselves be divided into study groups was raised. In this film, Cristoffer Forssander, university priest, Annelie Berglind, health educator and Fredrik Olsson, study and career counselor, tell what they hear in their contact with the students.

Functions for group work in Canvas

The functions for group work are labor-saving for you as a teacher. As soon as the students are members of a group, they get access to their own discussion, file sharing and collaborative functions. You avoid the hassle with folders and permissions.

Funktioner för grupparbete i Canvas

Funktionerna för grupparbete är arbetsbesparande för dig som lärare. Så snart studenterna är medlemmar i en grupp får de tillgång till egen diskussion, fildelning och samarbetsfunktioner. Du slipper krångel med mappar och behörigheter.

Naming the groups

Remember to choose a clear name when you create the groups, e.g. that the name describes what the group work is about; Chemistry presentation group 1, it will make it easier for your students to find the right group.

 

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