Student groups evaluating their group work and learning of critical online reading

Abstract

The study examined student groups’ (n = 72) self-evaluations of their group work and their learning of critical online reading during an inquiry task. The analyses focused on aspects of critical online reading, describing group work practices, and evaluating them. For learning critical online reading, the most often mentioned aspects were sources, perspectives, and author; corroboration and evidence were mentioned the least. About half of the groups mentioned 0–2 aspects which implies low diversity in learning critical online reading. The most often mentioned aspect in describing group work was division of work. In evaluating group work, member contributions were reflected most often. A majority of the groups mentioned four or five aspects of group work practices or evaluations which implies a moderate ability to reflect on group work. The results suggest that the students’ learning of critical online reading and reflecting on group work jointly were not very extensive.