Introduction
During your higher education (HE) studies you will be expected to work with other students in small groups.
Group work can be, and mostly is, a stimulating, interesting, and even enjoyable experience for group members. However, to make it a positive experience it is necessary to think about the process in advance.
Contents of this section
Unit 1: Group work
This unit looks at the role of group work in higher education, and about some of the benefits and challenges that working with others can bring.
Unit 2: Group Roles
This unit presents you with a self-assessment questionnaire to identify the roles you can play in any group.
Unit 3: Presentations
Giving a group or individual presentation is a common feature of group work in higher education. This unit looks at how to give an effective presentation, and includes advice on managing anxiety.
Unit 4: Managing Group Conflict
Differences of opinion can arise in any group, so this unit looks at what can be done to minimize and manage any conflict that can arise.
You will watch a LearnHigher film that looks at a group of students brought together in a common task and invites you to think about how you might respond to the situations presented in the scenes.
Workbooks
Recommended Websites and Reading
Websites
LearnHigher (Look for Learning Areas)
LearnHigher is a network of sixteen UK institutions of higher education that have combined to develop resources to support students’ learning. The LearnHigher resources relevant to this section are Group Work (University of Bradford); Oral Communication (Brunel University); and Listening and Interpersonal Skills (University of Leeds).
The University has a 'Communications - Oral Presentations' website that takes you step-by-step through the process of giving a presentation.
'Interpersonal skills - quick tips for working in groups': This site considers the importance of interpersonal skills when working within a group situation.
Reading
The Study Skills Handbook, by Stella Cottrell, published by Palgrave, has good and practical advice on working with others in groups and on giving presentations. Stella Cottrell's book: Skills for Success: the personal development planning handbook, also published by Palgrave, is also useful for developing 'people skills'.
The Smarter Student: skills and strategies for success at University, by Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers, published by Pearson, has useful sections on team working and on giving presentations.
Successful Teamwork by Peter Levin, and Perfect Presentations by Peter Levin and Graham Topping, published respectively by The Open University Press, are useful guides to working successfully in teams and on making presentations. The 'Successful Teamwork' book, in particular, has advice on managing conflict and dealing with 'free riders' in any group.
