Equity in Group Work Methodologies

Abstract

Collaboration is a necessary graduate attribute and is regarded as an effective way to increase learning and understanding. Technologies in education have vastly extended the opportunity for collaborative approaches to learning due to anywhere/anytime accessibility. However, whether in the virtual environment or in person, barriers to collaborative group work persist. To determine potential group work barriers, this exploratory study investigates student responses within an online environment that utilises a range of collaboration tools, together facilitating a student peer-reviewed group research project in first year human biology. Pre- and post-activity surveys were conducted and revealed persistent perceptions of inequity with regard to group work participation. However, the surveys also indicated that on an individual level there was broad agreement of benefits gained throughout the collaborative process. The results indicate that a major barrier to student engagement with collaboration relates to perceived performance of others, and not with perceived self-improvements experienced via the collaborative process.