This series of short videos will talk you through the main principles of working in groups. Each video corresponds to a stage of group work and you should work through them in the order they appear on this page. You’ll need to keep a pen handy in order to jot down your answers to some of the reflective questions and to make a note of any additional questions that you think of.
Part 1 - Introduction to Group Work
The first video considers why group work is important and discusses the main skills you can develop from successfully working in a group.
Part 2 - Forming
This video encourages you to think about the first stage of group formation. This is the point at which you will be thinking about how you function as an individual within the group, and asks you to explore your fears and hopes for building a successful group.
Part 3 - Storming
In this video, we will think about some of the problems that can occur when you are working in a group. It is inevitable that there will be some difficulties, but that is very natural when individuals come together. Here, you can begin thinking about how you might approach problem solving and how that will help you develop some of the important skills you need.
Part 4 - Norming
In this video, we talk about the stage of group formation when individuals begin to feel comfortable with one another and the work being done in the group. You will be asked to think about why this stage is important.
Part 5 - Performing and Adjourning
When you reach the end stages of group work, you will be able to complete your task successfully and deliver the objectives of your assignment. It is important to continue to reflect on how you have performed both as an individual and a group, because this will help you consolidate your skills.