Session 5 Blog Post: E-facilitation (Practicum) Week 9-12

Challenges and Benefits of Group Work in Higher Education

Group work in higher education presents both challenges and benefits. One challenge is that it can be time-consuming, particularly when waiting for all members to participate actively in group activities. Another challenge is the diversity of thinking styles and beliefs among members, which can sometimes slow the progress of a task. However, I believe the benefits of group work are more significant, especially in terms of the quality of work produced. This is because collaboration and the sharing of ideas among team members lead to stronger outcomes.

Reflecting on my experience with the Aristotle group, in doing our e-facilitation Practicum - Moodle shell, I recognize that each member brings their own strengths, weaknesses, experiences, talents, skills, and diverse learning styles to the team. A genuine spirit of collaboration is essential when working together to complete any group task. The group environment supported active interaction and the sharing of ideas. Fast learners were able to support other members, which helped the group complete tasks on time and achieve a high standard of quality.

When our group, Aristotle, began working on our e-facilitation practicum, we found it challenging at first. However, as we continued to meet regularly on Zoom, holding more than three meetings in total, we gradually developed a clearer understanding of the task and also built our confidence.

For a deeper understanding of the challenges and benefits of group work in higher education, please watch this video. It also provides useful strategies to help reduce or overcome those challenges.


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