Group work in grad schools, esp. distance ed

[Moogie]

Out of curiosity, how many of you who are in graduate programs, particularly distance education, are doing a lot of group work in your classes? I'm doing a lot of group work, definitely see advantages and disadvantages to the approach, but am just wondering if this is the newest trend in graduate education or if it's something rather unique to this particular school. This school is a traditional brick-and-mortar university with online classes and I have taken other courses, also at a traditional university, but those were on-campus and we did very little group work. I'm posting this in the distance ed forum as well but would just like to hear about other schools that are doing this----or not doing this---and if you'd like, any comments about the advantages and disadvantages that you see in this educational approach.

thanks in advance,

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Unfortunately, yes. And just like as an undergrad, I always seem to get the group members who can't write properly so I end up doing it all over again.

Drives me crazy that my grades depend on the work of others. Then again, I guess you gotta learn to work with others of varying abilities.

[tracelane, DNP, NP]

I'm in a DNP program and we have had a few group projects. I ended up doing all of the work for one. It's frustrating, I don't feel I can say "I did all the work" since we are a small group who will meet for campus visits each year.

We must graduate, become involved in education and launch a campaign against the dreaded distance education group project infecting our profession!

I feel strongly about this:)