Abstract
Group work has been recognised as an effective teaching and learning strategy in higher education since it improves student’s learning experiences, and encourages peer learning and support. Group work promotes sharing of knowledge between group members as they learn to work collaboratively while engaging in discussion and exploring diverse opinions. Group work improves communication by the promotion of active interaction, negotiation and exchange of information and ideas amongst students. Although there are challenges during group process, it is recommended that radiography educators should be encouraged to foster group work skills to allow for knowledge transfer to the clinical environment.
The aim of this quantitative descriptive study was to determine if group work has been effective in radiography education and to develop guidelines that will facilitate effective group work. The population for this study was the third-year radiography students registered for the National Diploma in Diagnostic Radiography in 2015 (N = 167). The sample was taken from two universities of technology and one comprehensive university in South Africa (n = 124). University 1 comprised 58 participants (46.8%), University 2 comprised 33 participants (26%) and University 3 comprised 33 participants (26%).
The study employed a quantitative research approach. The five point Likert scale questionnaire was distributed to three Universities in the three provinces across South Africa. The empirical factors were analysed using a five point Likert scale, providing a quantitative data. Participant’s responses to both open and closed ended questions provided a qualitative data, which afforded participants the opportunity to describe their experience of group work.
The findings of this study indicate that group work was not facilitated effectively due to challenges of group work, which led to students not enjoying to work collaboratively with each other. In order to promote effective group work there is a need to employ group work as a teaching and learning strategy in the classroom setting. Guidelines to facilitate effective group work are suggested.
M.Tech. (Radiography)