Importance and forms of collaboration

3. Advantages and disadvantages of group work (online and in person)

Live group work allows for direct communication, faster exchange of ideas, and stronger interpersonal relationships. Students are more likely to recognize nonverbal cues and establish trust. However, live meetings can be time-consuming and logistically difficult to coordinate.

On the other hand, online group work allows for greater flexibility and access to different collaboration tools, but it can make it harder to feel connected and reduce individual engagement, which we will discuss later in this activity. In a virtual environment, there is a risk of passivity, uneven contribution, and technical difficulties. However, digital tools offer the possibility of permanently recording ideas and transparency of work. It is ideal to combine both approaches, working in person for relationship building and working online for efficiency and flexibility. The key to success lies in a clear division of roles, communication rules, and agreed deadlines for both approaches.