The use of a project management tool in distance education to enhance students’ engagement in group work

Abstract

Group work is a widely embraced learning and assessment method that holds considerable importance in both in-person and online settings in higher education. However, group assignments introduce distinctive challenges, including unequal contributions, team conflict and divergent work ethics, leading to a pervasive reluctance among students to engage in university-level group work. Despite these concerns, group work continues to be a vital assessment approach for students, equipping them with essential skills for professional environments that prioritise teamwork and collaboration. In this opinion piece, I explore students' reluctance to engage in group work and introduce strategies and tools to transform unproductive group work into a collaborative learning experience. The discussion outlines implications for academics and learning developers, contributing to the ongoing discourse on collaborative tools in higher education assessments. With a primary focus on the challenges faced by distance-learning students, the opinion piece delves into the potential of Trello, a collaborative project management tool, to address these challenges and enhance collaborative learning in distance education. Its purpose is threefold: (1) enhance academics’ understanding of students’ reluctance to engage in group work, (2) enrich the experience of distance-learning students by highlighting the multifaceted benefits of collaborative learning in their educational journey that extend beyond traditional classroom boundaries and (3) propose innovative solutions to educators for fostering a culture of collaboration for more effective group work.

Keywords

• collaborative learning
• group work
• student engagement
• online learning
• higher education
• trello