Group work in IT

Investigating the student learning experience

Abstract

It is well known that students dislike working in groups. However, preparing students for the workplace is important and part of the graduate attributes for each university. As such, group work can be seen as an integral part of university assignments for many students. This paper reports on the group work experiences of IT students who complete a team work assessment as part of one of their subjects. Most students in the cohort study online which can add some complexity to the team work process. Most students felt that all members of the team were given an equal opportunity to contribute, with students reporting they generally worked at least adequately well together. One of the obstacles to working together was reported as working together online due to not being able to meet face to face. Overall, with scaffolding, working as a team does not have to be a negative experience for students and can provide deep learning.