Possibilities for Organizing Group Work for Computer Science Students

Abstract

This article is dedicated to addressing the issue of using different methodologies for conducting group projects for computer science students. The research was conducted on two courses, "Algorithmization and Programming of Solutions" and "Development of Web-Applications for the Internet," at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology at Riga Technical University. Two methods of organizing group projects in the educational process were investigated: a group project where student participation is not mandatory, and a group project organized with preliminary student testing and mandatory participation. The paper describes both approaches, the stages of implementation, and the actions of pedagogues and students at each stage. A survey was conducted among students of the courses "Algorithmization and Programming of Solutions" and "Development of Web-Applications for the Internet," opinions of students were collected, and based on them, the pros and cons of group projects in education were identified. The authors of the article believe that teaching methods must include new components, such as offering students the opportunity to work in teams, forming groups using different methodologies, and thereby motivating students to increase their knowledge and professional qualifications, which is the main goal of SMART education.