Creative solutions to common groupwork problems

Abstract

This case study considers a new workshop activity designed to provide the opportunity for students in the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) to practice the skills associated with groupwork. A need was established through discussions between Faculty tutors and the authors, a Learning Development tutor and a Learning Technologist, for learners to model the process utilising technology. A scenario workshop was devised where groups negotiated, scripted and filmed responses to given team problems. The prospect of potentially advising future students through video without being assessed appeared to galvanise groups and received positive feedback. Surveys were taken at the beginning of the process to establish participants’ previous experiences of groupwork, and this data informed five scenarios for future cohorts to storyboard their strategies. Feedback on the workshop activity has demonstrated that using video technologies together with scenario-based role-play can be an effective strategy in helping students to become effective group members.