tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post896439292165706199..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Group WorkDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-50371119499364050372011-04-17T18:40:38.480-07:002011-04-17T18:40:38.480-07:00While there are benefits in learning to cooperate,...While there are benefits in learning to cooperate, as a parent I hated group projects. I knew my kids would be the ones sweating out the grade, while others in their group would be content to barely pass. All group work does is place stress on the gifted kids. It doesn't raise the average or below average students up. It just penalizes good students for being good students.Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-49672930055725881372011-04-17T02:51:10.576-07:002011-04-17T02:51:10.576-07:00Bottom line -- if you talk to the students, the on...Bottom line -- if you talk to the students, the ones who hate it are the bright, hardworking ones. That should tell you all you need to know.maxutilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294262473781967372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-72830210662077634042011-04-16T17:16:24.024-07:002011-04-16T17:16:24.024-07:00This has always been a pet peeve of mine, since my...This has always been a pet peeve of mine, since my kids were the ones doing most of the work for the non-performers. Funny that when it comes to applying to college, it's the individual's grades, test scores and achievements that count.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03206344574666153343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-76539724807872118012011-04-16T12:13:43.400-07:002011-04-16T12:13:43.400-07:00The only "group work" in 30+ years of co...The only "group work" in 30+ years of computer programming was breaking one project into individual sections assigned to individuals. <br /><br />The only "group interaction" involved making the sections work together in a final product.<br /><br />Group work as taught in school doesn't exist in the real world outside gov politics.KauaiMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02581543514815246743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-46128378158800926942011-04-16T12:06:34.728-07:002011-04-16T12:06:34.728-07:00The ONLY place I've had success with group wor...The ONLY place I've had success with group work is in teaching economics -- and, it's a small part of their grade. But the discussions they have together are amazingly valuable, and serve only to contribute to the overall conclusion. Everyone still needs to know their stuff.maxutilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294262473781967372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-84373339674248529762011-04-16T11:46:40.333-07:002011-04-16T11:46:40.333-07:00Notice that the personal example I recall was in e...Notice that the personal example I recall was in engineering, and that there was no coattail effect there.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-44751616123343117192011-04-16T11:25:20.681-07:002011-04-16T11:25:20.681-07:00I think it depends on the subject. I certainly th...I think it depends on the subject. I certainly think that Language Arts, Social Science, and Foreign Language shouldn't have group work, for the reasons you've espoused. But in my engineering program, and also in some sciences, I feel group projects have value. <br /><br />I have my engineers document everything they do in their journal, so there is no "riding coattails" - they all have to pull their own weight. They also have to "delegate" their efforts - no groups of three - so one person will be the "builder" and the other the "programmer", or whatever the project calls for.<br /><br />But I totally agree - someone is always riding a coattail if you don't hold them accountable.socalmikenoreply@blogger.com