Group issues include responsibility, dependability, concern for others, and evaluation of personal abilities, those of others, and evaluation of the group process. Although some problems can be found on the Internet, gathering enough information to create real life problems can take the instructor a considerable amount of time. Most textbooks do not contain assembled problems or even enough information about a topic to construct a problem. Many resent having to look up information on their own. They may also feel uncomfortable working in groups and depending upon other students for their grade in the course.
Some student groups can be dysfunctional.
Since learning is a group process that involves solving a problem,the traditional methods for assessing learning are not suitable. Some assessment methods are given below. Essays that allow students to discuss important issues about which they gathered information to solve the problem can be an effective way to assess learning. Draw diagrams that show how information is related can provide the instructor a method to determine whether or not students understand the how the information was used to solve the problem. Peer assessment allows group members to assign a grade to other group members participation in the problem solving process.