Group work

The purpose of group work

Working in a group can be a valuable learning experience. Group assessments provide opportunities to develop skills in communication, collaboration, organisation, delegation, leadership, and problem-solving. Successful group work involves more than simply dividing the assessment into sections and completing them separately. Group members need to work collaboratively to share ideas, make decisions, and bring individual contributions together into one cohesive assessment.

Watch Purpose of Group Work video

Hey there, my name is Evie and I will be assisting you with understanding the purpose of group work at uni.

You have just been assigned to complete a project for class but this time, you are not alone and need to work in a group. This is going to require some skills and strategies that are different from individual work. Group work projects can be quite extensive for you alone but it is possible to complete with the collective talents of the group members who share their knowledge, abilities and ideas. This way it can be used as a potent learning tool to help you deepen your understanding on topics.

Let's visualise how group work usually occurs. 

When most students do group work, they divide up the tasks, work independently, and then they try to combine the results into something that looks patched together. Imagine that you were assigned a story to write as a group. But if you didn't plan the characters, the settings and the plot as a team, you would end up with an extremely confusing story.

Now let’s look at an alternate way a group work can occur.

The key is to work collaboratively instead of separately where everyone works together to share information, co-creating knowledge and working with the strengths and weaknesses of every member. This way, a clear structure can be created to logically connect various ideas into a grander yet coherent story.

Group work gives you the chance to explore a topic or idea from multiple angles and the opportunity to interact with diverse peers and perspectives. This way, you broaden your understanding and strengthen your interpersonal, planning, organizational and leadership skills.

Effective groups work towards a shared goal and recognise that each member brings different strengths, experiences, and perspectives.

Successful groups:

  • Set clear goals and expectations
  • Establish agreed ways of working
  • Define roles and responsibilities
  • Allocate tasks fairly
  • Communicate regularly and respectfully
  • Set and follow agreed deadlines
  • Monitor progress throughout the assessment
  • Listen to different perspectives and make decisions collaboratively
  • Support group members when challenges arise
  • Focus on finding solutions when problems occur

Group work can become challenging when there is poor communication, unclear expectations, unequal participation, lack of direction, or unresolved conflict. Establishing clear expectations early can help prevent many of these arising.

Different group members may approach tasks and communicate in different ways. Effective group work involves recognising these differences while continuing to work towards a shared goal.

Positive group dynamics rely on:

  • Listening to different points of view
  • Giving everyone an opportunity to contribute
  • Making important decisions as a team
  • Communicating concerns and suggestions respectfully
  • Being proactive when problems arise
  • Supporting group members who may be experiencing difficulties

If you identify a problem that could affect the assessment, raise it with the group early rather than allowing it to continue.

The first group meeting is an opportunity to establish how the group will work together and develop a plan for completing the assessment.

Review the assessment task

Make sure everyone has a shared understanding of:

  • What the assessment requires
  • The assessment criteria
  • The expected format and structure
  • The due date
  • Any requirements relating to individual and group contributions

Discuss the overall approach before dividing the assessment into individual tasks. This helps ensure each contribution works towards the same purpose. 

Establish a team agreement

A team charter or group agreement can be used to record how the group will work together.

This may include:

  • The goals and purpose of the assessment
  • Group members and their contact details
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • How the group will communicate (e.g. online, in person, via messaging platforms)
  • Meeting arrangements
  • Expectations for participation and attendance
  • Agreed deadlines
  • How decisions will be made
  • What the group will do if problems arise

Agreeing on these expectations early can help reduce misunderstandings later.

Allocate tasks fairly

Break the assessment into smaller, manageable tasks and decide who will be responsible for each one.

When allocating tasks:

  • Consider each group member's strengths, experience, and interests
  • Consider the amount of work involved in each task
  • Make sure responsibilities are clearly defined
  • Ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute meaningfully
  • Check that the overall workload is fair and manageable
  • Record agreed tasks and responsibilities so everyone knows what they are expected to complete

Fair allocation does not always mean giving each person the same number of tasks. Some tasks may require more time or work than others. Roles and responsibilities may also need to change as the assessment progresses. Review the workload regularly and redistribute tasks where appropriate. 

Create a timeline and set deadlines

Work backwards from the assessment due date and create a timeline for completing the project. You can use the UOW Assignment Calculator to assist you with this.

Break larger tasks into smaller stages and agree on internal deadlines for each stage. For example, your group may set deadlines for:

  • Initial research
  • Completing individual sections
  • Sharing drafts with the group
  • Combining individual contributions
  • Reviewing and editing the complete assessment
  • Completing a final check before submission

Set internal deadlines early enough to allow time for unexpected problems or changes. Record agreed deadlines somewhere accessible to all group members, such as a shared document, calendar, or project planning tool.

 

Once the group has established how it will work together, regular communication and monitoring can help keep the assessment on track. Reviewing progress throughout the assessment also provides opportunities to identify problems early and make changes where needed.

Communicate and meet regularly

Discuss each group member's availability and agree on how you will communicate throughout the assessment.

You should consider:

  • When group members are available
  • How often the group needs to meet
  • Whether meetings will be online, in person, or a combination 
  • Which communication platforms the group will use
  • Where shared documents and resources will be stored

Regular meetings can help the group monitor progress and identify problems before they affect the assessment. It may be helpful to set an agenda prior to meeting with your group.

During meetings:

  • Review what has been completed
  • Identify what still needs to be done
  • Discuss any difficulties or delays
  • Check whether workloads remain fair
  • Confirm responsibilities and upcoming deadlines
  • Agree on any changes to the group's plan 

Keep a record of meetings

Keeping a brief record of important decisions can help everyone remember what was agreed. Meeting records do not need to be lengthy. Focus on recording decisions, outstanding tasks and responsibilities, and deadlines that the group may need to refer to later.

Monitor progress and provide feedback

Group members are collectively responsible for monitoring the progress of the assessment.

Rather than waiting until the final stages, you should:

  • Share drafts and progress updates regularly
  • Review each other's contributions
  • Provide constructive and specific feedback
  • Check that each section remains consistent with the group's agreed approach
  • Raise concerns about delays or workload early
  • Adjust tasks or deadlines where necessary

Regular feedback gives group members an opportunity to improve their work and helps ensure individual sections fit together effectively.

It can also be useful to reflect briefly on how the group is working, including:

  • What is working well?
  • Is everyone able to contribute?
  • Are deadlines realistic and being met?
  • Is communication effective?
  • Does anything need to change before the next stage?

Bring the assessment together

Avoid completing individual sections entirely independently and combining them for the first time immediately before submission. The group should agree on the overall structure and key ideas early, and regularly review how individual contributions fit together.

Before submission, the group leader or another nominated group member should review and format the complete assessment so that it is cohesive and consistent. 

This includes checking:

  • The assessment answers the task or objectives 
  • Ideas are organised logically 
  • Individual sections connect clearly 
  • Unnecessary repetition or gaps in information are addressed 
  • Terminology and writing style are consistent 
  • Formatting and headings are consistent 
  • Graphs, tables, and images are presented appropriately 
  • Spelling and grammar have been checked 
  • In-text references and the reference list are accurate and consistent

Although one person may take responsibility for the final review and formatting, all group members should contribute to checking the final assessment and take responsibility for the finished work.

It is important to acknowledge that disagreements can occur. There are strategies you can implement to respond appropriately to conflict. 

Disagreements can occur when working with other people. Common problems may include:

  • Unequal participation
  • Missed deadlines
  • Poor communication
  • Lack of leadership or direction
  • Different expectations about the quality or direction of the assessment
  • Lack of respect for other people's ideas
  • Difficulty making decisions

Where possible, raise concerns early and discuss them as a group.

When addressing conflict:

  • Listen actively to understand each person's perspective
  • Focus on the issue rather than criticising the individual
  • Refer back to the assessment requirements and previously agreed expectations
  • Communicate concerns respectfully and specifically
  • Identify possible solutions
  • Agree on actions to address the problem
  • Record any changes to responsibilities or deadlines
  • Support group members who may be experiencing difficulties

For example, don’t say "I don't think this will work." Instead, say "I can see the approach you're taking, but I think we should check it against the assessment criteria to make sure it addresses the required focus."

If a group member is falling behind, you may consider checking whether there is an issue affecting their ability to complete their task and discuss whether responsibilities or deadlines need to be adjusted. If the group cannot resolve the problem, seek support.

If an issue arises, group members should first try to discuss and resolve the problem together. If the issue cannot be resolved within the group, or is affecting the completion of the assessment, seek support early rather than waiting until close to the due date.

Subject Tutor

Your tutor can provide guidance about completing the assessment and help ensure your group has a correct understanding of the task. You may also contact your tutor for advice about group work issues such as communication difficulties, disagreements, missed deadlines, or concerns about how the group is working together.

Depending on the issue, your tutor may speak with the group or individual group members and clarify expectations and responsibilities relating to the assessment.

Subject Coordinator

Contact your Subject Coordinator for more serious or ongoing issues that the group has been unable to resolve, such as a group member not participating or completing their agreed work. Your Subject Coordinator can provide advice about how the issue should be managed in relation to the assessment.

Contact details for your tutor and Subject Coordinator can be found on your Subject Moodle site or in your Subject Outline.