Gaining an Understanding From Students About the Best Practices for Implementing Groups in Online Environments

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Instructor-Student and Student-Student Interactions in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

The objective of this case study is to examine students’ experience and perceptions of a group assignment and team-building process in an online graduate class to determine the feasibility of this approach in improving group learning in online environments. Purposively selected 3 groups out of 16 were observed and a student from each of the 3 groups interviewed. Data was collected in the form of discussion records, group projects, biweekly reflections, and student interviews from 3 groups as well as the instructors’ reflections. Groups’ narratives describe journeys from students’ prior perceptions towards group work to experiences in this group assignment process.

Authors

• Funda Ergulec, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Janet Mannheimer Zydney, University of Cincinnati