Abstract
This study explored master degree students experienced with a group assignment at the Department of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. The study adopted quantitative approach. The students were assigned to groups of 4 – 5 each to work on topics in collection development course and were required to orally present a seminar at the end of the first semester of the 2012/2013 academic session. At the end of the seminar presentation, the students were requested to each list five benefits they derived and five problems they encountered in the course of the group assignment. The responses were collated, analysed, tabulated and used for this paper. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the data. It was discovered that group assignment enabled the students in this study to build team spirit, share ideas; learn information search, presentation, and management skills. However, majority of the students observed that some members did not cooperate in the group assignment. The study provided primary data which could assist lecturers to improve on administration of group assignment. Keywords : Group assignment, Collaborative learning, Group learning, Pedagogy, Nigeria
Highlights
Group assignment is an activity in educational setting which requires students to work together in order to acquire knowledge and develop interpersonal and leadership skills
While some academics would admit that they lessen their workload, many would say group assignments give students the “real world” group experience that is needed for later employment (Ford & Morice, 2003)
This study explored the benefits and problems master degree students experienced with a group assignment at the Department of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Summary
Group assignment is an activity in educational setting which requires students to work together in order to acquire knowledge and develop interpersonal and leadership skills. It has been noted by Weimer (2013) that students can learn five things when engaged in group assignment: i They can learn content, as in master the material: Whether they are working on problems, answering questions about the reading, or discussing case studies, when they work together on content, they can master the basics. This is because, when students work with content in a group they figure things out for themselves rather than having the lecturer tell them what they need to know.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
