Group assignments are a near-universal feature of classrooms around the world. They are broadly viewed as more effective than passive forms of learning and are assumed to position students for success in fields that demand high levels of interpersonal communication, like public affairs. But does research support that view? This article examines the literature on group assignments. It illustrates that most studies on group assignments suffer from weak research designs, leaving little empirical basis for their presumed benefits. The article offers suggestions for improving the design and implementation of group assignments, but also encourages instructors to reconsider their use.

中文翻译：

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小组作业是有效的教学法还是浪费时间？文献综述和对实践的影响

小组作业是世界各地教室的一个近乎普遍的特征。人们普遍认为，它们比被动的学习形式更有效，并被假定使学生在需要高水平人际交流的领域取得成功，如公共事务。但研究是否支持这种观点？本文研究了关于小组作业的文献。它说明大多数关于小组作业的研究都受到薄弱的研究设计的影响，几乎没有为其假定的好处留下经验基础。文章为改进小组作业的设计和实施提供了建议，但也鼓励教师重新考虑它们的使用。