Use group roles, rotating roles, shared rubrics, and product-and-process debriefs to foster belonging in group work¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The primer offers concrete activities mapped to characteristics of collaborative learning. Group roles "help students work more smoothly, encourage all to participate, and prevent one or a small number of students from dominating the conversation." Rotating roles (facilitator, recorder, time keeper, presenter) build shared responsibility. Shared rubrics involve "collaborating with students to co-create the criteria for success," and debriefs should emphasize both product and process with questions about group dynamics, such as whether everyone felt able to contribute.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Preparation of students to actively participate in group activities before monitoring and assessing collaboration

Constraints¶

• There is no perfect group; group membership should be regularly changed so students learn from different perspectives

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students working in collaborative groups

Target Learning Goals¶

• Shared responsibility and belonging
• Effective teamwork and communication
• Equitable participation

Related Strategies¶

• Structured Peer Discussion Roles
• Common Ground Group Assignments
• Role Assignment
• Empowering Students as Leaders
• Learning Communities
• Personalize the learning environment and instructional process to foster belonging

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Thevenard, P., Shell, A., Victor, L., Glazer, K., Fusco, J., Tyler, C., and Akanbi, K. (2025, May). Foundations of Collaboration. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/253