Designing Group Project Work to Enhance Learning: key elements

This paper describes and evaluates a unit (module), the design of which addressed the problems of running group work in Higher Education. The design process began by consulting students and colleagues and with a literature review. This led to the identification of a number of dilemmas which the design attempted to resolve. The students' perceptions of the unit were then gathered. The findings indicate that the design of group projects should consider four key elements: the organisation of the project; assessment; the balance between student choice and tutor direction; tutor support. The key dynamics emerging were the impact of shifting the balance of power towards students in controlling assessment, and in the way in which the structure and organisation of the groups affected performance.