Short Exploratory Report Template
Topic: Avoiding Conflict in Classroom Group Work
Introduction:
Outline your problem, any history or context, some of the problem’s possible causes, and
introduce the source (s) used.
Group projects in the classroom are a trending method of assisting students to develop their
communication, cooperation and critical thinking skills. This however often transfers to conflict
due to personality clashes, lack of definition of roles, inadequate communication and differences
in work ethic. Such conflicts may reduce production and leave a negative effect on relationship
and the performance of the students. One of the sources I used to conduct this study is the
essay published by the Centre of Teaching Excellence of the University of Waterloo entitled
"Managing Conflict in Student Group Work". The source provides ways of preventing and
resolving conflicts at the group level in learning situations.
Body:
Include your source, important information you found in the source regarding your problem,
why the information is dependable, and how the source helped you or changed your thinking
The study conducted by the University of Waterloo brings out a variety of critical factors that
promote a conflict in the group such as unequal participation, misperceptions, and lack of
shared goals. It proposes strategies such as establishment of group agreements, clear setting of
goals, distribution of duties fairly and keeping lines of communication open at an early moment.
It further advises on engagement of teachers when dispute begins to affect performance
negatively.
This source can be believed because it is based on the research done in the spheres of
education and student involvement and is created in reliable academic institution. It has also
been peer reviewed by educators and has real world examples in it.
What I learned through reading the essay was that lack of organization and planning is often a
source of conflict in group projects and not only a dispute on the grounds of personalities. My
first idea was to give out group roles but now it has occurred to me that both agreement-making
and building a positive group culture are no-less important at the initial stages.
Conclusion:
Restate the problem, review possible solutions, discuss further questions you have about this
topic and where you might find answers.
All of these things, proactive preparation, honesty, and instructor assistance, can help minimize
the conflict in the classroom group projects which is still a common occurrence. Some of the
possible solutions include setting clear expectations, devising group contracts and scheduling
regular check-ins. I would now like to know how cultural communication styles have been found
to influence the dynamics of the group and whether it happens in virtual group work in the
same ways. I would find solutions to these problems by reading literature on educational
psychology or intercultural communication.
