Some Possible Collaborative Tasks

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1. Having students deal with some problem or question; brainstorming (good in larger groups such as five).

2. Applying a concept or idea to some specific task (e.g. working in threes to outline the main points on how an essay is structured).

3. On slow days when discussion is difficult to initiate, and spontaneous grouping is an alternative.

4. Revising material collaboratively.

5. Grouping into larger divisions – one half of the class argues one view while the other half argues an opposing view; or this may be done within sides by groups of three or five (who was right? Antigone or Creon?).

6. Separate tasks for separate groups (e.g. have each group examine a sample paper looking at different components such as structure, detail, theme, argument, etc.).

7. Having students work directly on overhead transparencies for immediate use in class.

8. Developing discussion questions collaboratively.

9. Extended grouping (best in pairs) for home assignments and long-term projects.

10. Testing out a procedure in class before students try it on their own (for instance, having a mock interview in class or assessing the evidence used in an argument).

11. Forming study teams.

A note about too much collaboration: While collaborative work is an extremely effective way to motivate students and get them actively working on something, it is sometimes possible to over-group, grouping for anything and everything. One way to avoid this is to try to think of other ways beside grouping that might accomplish your objectives. Maybe an informal debate, round-table discussion, or mini-lecture can accomplish the same goals. You might consider introducing media to the class, such as an excerpt from a play you are reading or a brief film about a poet the class is studying.