Social Loafing (No, It’s Not Bread, But It Can Be a Piece of Cake)

I had never heard the term social loafing before the Learning Key Workshop, but as soon as I heard what it meant, I thought, "Ah, so that's what's been happening in all those group projects!"

I've always been a worrier, especially when it comes to school. If an assignment was individual, I felt in control. I could decide how much effort to put in and when to work on it. But when a project involved a group, my first thought was oh no. Not because I disliked working with people, but because I knew there would likely be someone who wouldn't pull their weight.

In theory, group work sounds great: students collaborating, sharing ideas, developing teamwork and communication skills. But in practice, at least from my experience in elementary and high school, it often didn't work out that way. There were always a few people who didn't care much about the project, and as someone who cared a lot about grades, I usually ended up compensating for them. Social loafing – when some members of a group put in less effort due to unclear expectations or uneven accountability – was definitely something I experienced, and it made me dread group work.

Now, as a teacher candidate, I've been reflecting on how I can prevent this same problem from happening in my future classroom. The Learning Key Workshop offered some great strategies that I plan to use: 

1. Assign unique roles and tasks: Giving each student a distinct responsibility ensures accountability. Everyone has a specific part to complete, which helps make the workload and expectations clear.
2. Ensure individual accountability: Incorporating individual assessments, such as brief quizzes, reflection sheets, or progress check-ins, helps track each student's understanding and effort throughout the project. 

I strongly believe that one student's lack of participation shouldn't negatively impact others. Group work can and should be a positive learning experience. It teaches collaboration, respect, communication, and problem solving, which are all essential life skills. Every group dynamic will be different, but as educators, we can create structures and expectations that help students stay engaged and responsible. 

At the end of the day, group work shouldn't be a source of stress. It should be an opportunity for students to learn with and from one another, and even have fun in the process. 

Courtesy of HannahN@OTU