Your Social Studies classroom is loud and filled with chattering voices; however, the room next door is almost silent with an occasional whisper. Your class is working with groups for a large project; next door, the students are completing a set of questions independently. Some students might find that the loud and busy environment makes tasks easier, but many others would rather work alone. Does being in groups vs. being solo have any effect on your work?  Whether group work is beneficial or ineffective has been a debate among students and teachers for decades, and the students and staff at Lincoln Middle School have their personal beliefs about this topic. 

Research collected at Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning concluded that 73% of students would prefer to collaborate in groups, (dcal.dartmouth.edu). The variety of things to work on with a group is nearly endless, allowing lots of variety for students. While some people might enjoy creating a PowerPoint with peers, others might find working on a sheet of problems more comfortable in a group setting. An example of this would be that Aniyah, a student at Lincoln, would prefer to work in groups when creating artwork. She stated, “It is easier to focus and add creative touches when working in a group.” Brittle

Presentations with multiple parts are also common when working with others. On the other hand, worksheets are still a personal favorite for many teachers and students. This would be the case for a 6th grade science teacher at Lincoln. “It makes things easier in order for every student to participate,” says Ms. Boyer. Being able to collaborate with your peers has shown favorable perks. Imagine yourself participating in an organized debate for discussion with your classmates. Would you think there may be beneficial parts to this activity? Data from studies conducted has shown that when debating and discussing with peers, your understanding of a topic is increased (oxfordlearning.org). It is increased due to being able to have organized collaboration, which typically will help a certain topic “soak in” more.  

In certain situations, whether your teacher chooses groups, or they are assembled by you and other students, can also influence your working environment.   Visualize your teacher sorting people into groups. You are arranged into a group with people you don’t socialize with often. This would create a setting where your work might be done faster, or in a more productive way. Your reaction to being placed with a newer group of peers would happen because you would not feel nearly as inclined to socialize with these people in a way that you would if it was a group with your best friends. The opposite may occur if you’re grouped with friends; your group may talk and socialize more, and not be as focused on your final work.

In conclusion, working in a group can, and will, have benefits along with some downsides. However, being able to work both alone and with others is a necessity when it comes to life skills. Even though everyone may have their own preferred methods, in the end, we should all learn how to use both.