Some Additional insights about how groups work: ( from current  & past semesters)

- There's an expectation that people are put in groups to learn something – the "socialization effect"

- Motivating the performance of others IS a major part of working in groups

- You have to be TAUGHT how to work in groups – it's not innate for all cultures

- Despite the U.S. cultural norms, not all group participants behave in high-utterance, talkative ways. It's important to understand there are stylistic differences & "ALLOW" space for the contributions of quieter participants. At the same time, all  participants should be willing to speak up when necessary/appropriate, 

- Working in a group means all participants need to adapt to be able to accept others ideas and not be in full control even though the grade is on the line.

- Everyone has his/her own role -- as in a sports team or a construction project

- Sometimes, there can be poor communication between members.

-  Sometimes there are "slackers" whose behaviors can affect everyone else’s mood and/or grades

-   Expect different opinions due to different backgrounds.

  - Group norms tend to encourage more organized work behaviors from everybody

- not everyone knows how to give & recieve criticism CONSTRUCTIVELY

- Also, shy individual(s) may not like working in groups

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part 2 

Our Top Five situations that working in groups is better than working individually

 via Group #2 ( Leader: Anna / Recorder: Will)

Question: Top five circumstances  where it is favorable to use groups.

1. Studying
2. Multi-faceted problems
3. Research / Data Collection
4. Presentations
5. Theater / Entertainment Performance

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part 3 

What are the most important skills necessary for successful (&amicable) Working In Groups?

 via online Discussion Board/Forum #1

> Critical Thinking

>Ability to Give Quality Input

> Have a Cooperative Attitude

>Collaborative Cooperation
> Communication Skills"  Ability to understand and to be understood

> Listening and Response skills

>Patience

>Reliability

Some Leftover thoughts from previous semester:

1.     In certain education settings: e.g. Long-term projects in a semester can be worked on as a group because everyone could have a different perspective on what was taught by the teacher and the lessons that were taught in the class and the project can be finished with better knowledge of the subject.

2.     Public presentations are another way that we found working in groups much easier than working alone because you can break down topics into sections that each member of a group is more knowledgeable about and also,  it would make it easier to  answer questions that the audience might have.

3.     Forming study groups with other members in your class or other friends help make it easier to understand different topics in the class that you currently have trouble understanding.

4.     Starting a marketing campaign for a business or a product is easier working in groups because one person can focus on television advertising, another can focus on print advertising, someone else can focus on making sales pitches to distributors, and a group member can work on the graphic design.

5.     Teaching can be used more efficiently as a group as a team exercise because the teacher can explain the lesson for the class then the students can work in a group to accomplish the work the needs to be finished with the teacher answering questions that the group has trouble figuring out on its own.  

1.different research( different views) < i.e. something that benefits from "360 degree" type examination >

4. Specialization < i.e. task requires multiple  specialized skills>   

1.Planning large scale projects--- because you can break down the task into smaller parts  [ via Madison]

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Some leftover examples from past semesters:

    Sports

    Social Work/Volunteer

    Work Presentations

    Family Units

    Friends