Group Work Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Four Barriers to Effective Group Work

Have you ever assigned a group project, only to watch it spiral into frustration? One student does all the work, another student scrolls on their phone, and the rest struggle to stay on task.

You’re not alone. While research highlights the benefits of collaborative learning—like improved academic achievement and stronger motivation—the reality often falls short.

So, how do you harness the potential of group work while avoiding its pitfalls? Let’s examine four common barriers and how you can turn them into opportunities for success.

Group Work Challenge #1: No student accountability

The Problem:

Some students either don’t contribute or don’t know how to.

Solutions:

Assign Clear Roles: Give each student a specific task, like Recorder, Presenter, or Researcher.  Defined responsibilities make students more accountable and make it easier for them to contribute.

• • • Free Resource: Download our Role Cards for Groups of 2, 3, or 4.

Teach Collaboration Skills: Don’t assume students know how to work together. Model effective teamwork and practice as a class.

For example, simply saying, “Treat group members with respect.” is often not enough because some students may not know what that looks like. 

Depending on your students, consider teaching:

• • • • The importance of addressing each other by name and what to do if you don’t know or don’t remember someone’s name
  • • • What to say to be supportive of a classmate’s idea and how to politely handle a situation when a peer’s idea isn’t super great
    • • Why students should physically turn and face their group members while working and how we turn our desks in a quick and efficient manner

Smaller Groups, Bigger Impact: Keep groups small (3–4 students) to minimize hiding places for disengaged members.

Student Choice Increases Buy-In: For larger projects, provide a list of all the steps necessary to completion.  Instead of assigning roles, let groups divide up the responsibilities themselves. This encourages ownership and clarifies for everyone (including you) what part each student will contribute.

Group Work Challenge #2: Too much time off task

The Problem:

Groups spend more time chatting than working.

Solutions:

Break Tasks Into Timed Chunks: Instead of asking for a finished product in 45 minutes, set 15-minute checkpoints for smaller deliverables.

• • • • Tip: Use a classroom timer or app to keep everyone on track.

Teacher-Selected Groups: While students often prefer picking their own partners, teacher-assigned groups tend to be more balanced and productive.

Minimize Distractions: Enforce (key word) clear rules about electronic devices. Phones are tempting but can derail focus – as if you didn’t know that already.

Student Attention Span: Be realistic with student concentration span (10-15 minute capacity for focused attention) and base expectations around them.

Adjust the Time Frame: Remember Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the time available. 

Students don’t need as much time as they think (or want) for certain tasks.  Shorter, focused sessions often yield better results.

Group Work Challenge #3: Lackluster interaction between students

The Problem:

Student conversations are shallow, forced, or non-existent.

Solutions:

Alternate Between Thinking and Talking: Divide time between independent thought and conversation. This increases the odds that everyone has something to contribute.

Use Sentence Starters: Encourage richer discussions by providing prompts, such as:

• • • • “The main question we need to answer is…”
      • “Let’s go around the table and share one idea.”
      • “Another way to look at this is…”

Interactive Assignments: The best group assignments genuinely require input from all group members.  Try to avoid individual tasks that are disguised as group work.

Group Work Challenge #4: Equitable grading of the work

The Problem:

How do you grade fairly when contributions vary?

Two approaches:

1. Shared grade: The group submits one product, and everyone receives the same grade.

• • • • Pros: Encourages teamwork.
      • Cons: Risks unfairly penalizing or rewarding students based on others’ efforts.

2. Individual Components: Students are graded on their individual contributions within the group.

• • • • Pros: Rewards accountability.
      • Cons: Can diminish the collaborative aspect of group work.

A third option:

3. Grade a Follow-Up Task: Assign a shared group grade and an individual grade for a separate task (written assignment, reflection, or quiz) based on the group’s work. 

• • • • Pros: High degree of fairness
      • Cons: Added assignments and grading

Quick Tips for Better Group Work

• Start Small: Pilot your strategies with a short group activity before tackling a big project.

• Set Clear Expectations: Share rubrics and role descriptions upfront.

• Reflect: Dedicate time for post-project reflections to assess both the process and learning outcomes.

Small Changes Can Produce Significant Results

Group work doesn’t have to be a source of stress—for you or your students. By addressing common barriers like accountability, focus, interaction, and grading, you can create a collaborative environment where everyone thrives.

Brad has taught history at the middle and high school levels for 19 years, almost exclusively in American public schools.  He has a master’s in educational technology and is passionate about elevating the status of professional educators.