Introduction

Pre-Lab Assignments

The Pre-Lab Introduction

During and After the Lab

Lab Period Dos and Don'ts

Asking Effective Questions

Managing Lab Partners and Groups

Video Gallery

Back to Teaching Guide Home

 

 

TEACHING LABS
Managing Lab Partners and Groups

Managing lab partners and groups requires:

  • Knowing what to do when the group gets stuck and asks, “What do we do next?”
  • Organizing effective groups that accomplish their goals
  • Managing questions from different groups to avoid your having to repeat yourself

Possible strategies for addressing these issues include asking questions that encourage reasoning, such as:

  • What did you find when you did . . . (earlier part)?
  • What does this mean . . . (a term, a figure)?
  • How does this relate to . . . (earlier information)?
  • How do we measure . . . ?
  • What is your goal for . . . (next part)?

To help students work better in groups, you might determine which students are the strongest, then promote teamwork by asking them to explain their ideas to their groups. Similarly, you can identify a group that is doing well, ask them to explain their ideas to other groups. These kinds of interactions help students refine their ideas.

If groups are not working well, you might assign groups randomly each week so that students get to interact with all their classmates. If some students work quickly and finish before others, ask them to help in other groups, or to begin their data analysis. If students are not working on what they should be, or seem distracted, ask specific questions about the process to get them back on track.

Equity Issues of Group Work

Students sometimes react negatively towards group work. This is often due to some members feeling that they do an uneven share of the work, and that grades will not reflect individual effort. Of course, there are also personality conflicts that can arise.

As mentioned earlier, one approach is to randomize groups to avoid repeated personality conflicts or other difficulties. It also helps to assign specific tasks to each group member. Asking teammates to evaluate each other’s work can clarify who has been responsible for the group’s progress, and assigning grades individually as well as for the group will help alleviate fears of unfairness.

 

Copyright © 2009 UC Berkeley