Authentic Learning Strategy:

Create Group Roles

NOTE: This strategy is part of the self-paced Spark Collaboration Course

When learners are working in groups, they need to have clear roles and expectations that support the group’s success. In smaller collaborative learning experiences such as a group discussion, those roles may include timekeeper, scribe, reporter, facilitator, etc. In more complex group projects, student roles should be more meaningful, which may mean that they complete different tasks than their group mates or that they contribute to the group in unique ways.

Bright Spots

Gain inspiration from authentic examples of this strategy shared by teachers who have used them with their learners.

Creating your own Bright Spots? Let’s get them out into the world! Share yours here.

Meaningful and Authentic to the Task

At the Farm Lab in Encinitas Unified School District, middle school students participate in a Salad Wars project during which each member of the group has a different role such as advertiser, nutrition specialist, chef, logo team, and marketer. Each student’s role is meaningful and authentic to the task and requires their contribution to meet the team goals.

Jobs

Source: Stephanie Howell on Twitter

Well-Defined Roles

In small collaborative activities or discussions, having team roles such as facilitator, timekeeper, recorder and reporter keep the group on track. However, it’s important to ensure that roles rotate so someone isn’t always the timekeeper and that learners in those roles are still involved in the discussion or group activity.