SOLUTION

Lack of Participation

Students seem disengaged, not contributing

CHALLENGE

Ideas Lack Depth

Student projects or ideas feel superficial

A) Ask what’s up, uncover the roadblock.

B) Give solo activities, assign roles.

C) Take a break and resume later with a refreshed mindset.

D)Assign more homework as a consequence for not participating.

A) You can do better. Take another 10 minutes to think about it.

B) Accept the idea and move on to the next activity.

C) Give feedback to the student openly for their lack of effort

D) Sharing ideas and facilitating a discussion

1

SOLUTION

Lack of Participation

Students seem disengaged, not contributing

CHALLENGE

Ideas Lack Depth

Student projects or ideas feel superficial

A) Ask what’s up, uncover the roadblock.

B) Give solo activities, assign roles.

C) Take a break and resume later with a refreshed mindset.

D)Assign more homework as a consequence for not participating.

A) You can do better. Take another 10 minutes to think about it.

B) Accept the idea and move on to the next activity.

C) Give feedback to the student openly for their lack of effort

D) Sharing ideas and facilitating a discussion

1

1

SOLUTION

Some socializing and breaks are fine (and fun), but if students seem totally unengaged try any of the following: ask what’s up, uncover the roadblock, create smaller groups, give solo activities, give roles, determine deliverables

Lack of Participation

Students seem disengaged, not contributing

CHALLENGE

Simply say: “You can do better. Take another 10 minutes to think about it.” You can also try sharing examples, facilitating a think tank, letting students judge their own and each other’s ideas

Ideas Lack Depth

Student projects or ideas feel superficial

1

SOLUTION

A) Assign specific roles, including a moderator role to balance participation.

B) Allow the dominating student to continue leading the discussions, as it shows leadership.

C) Let the student speak as he will eventually get bored.

Dominating Participants

One student overshadows discussions

CHALLENGE

A) Conduct private conversations, rotate group compositions, assign specific roles.

B) Let the student in the same group until they choose to participate.

C) Call out the student in front of the class to encourage participation.

Social Isolation

A student appears disconnected from group activities

2

SOLUTION

A) Assign specific roles, including a moderator role to balance participation.

B) Allow the dominating student to continue leading the discussions, as it shows leadership.

C) Let the student speak as he will eventually get bored.

Dominating Participants

One student overshadows discussions

CHALLENGE

A) Conduct private conversations, rotate group compositions, assign specific roles.

B) Let the student in the same group until they choose to participate.

C) Call out the student in front of the class to encourage participation.

Social Isolation

A student appears disconnected from group activities

2

SOLUTION

Assign specific roles, including a moderator role to balance participation (stand up and speak to the class)

Dominating Participants

One student overshadows discussions

CHALLENGE

Conduct private conversations, frequently rotate group compositions, assign specific roles. ask “What’s stopping you?”

Social Isolation

A student appears disconnected from group activities

2

SOLUTION

A) Reduce the difficulty of tasks to encourage students to take them on.

B) Frame tasks as opportunities, address concerns, set clear milestones.

C) Allow students to work only on tasks they feel comfortable with to ensure participation.

Avoidance of Challenge

A student or group avoids difficult tasks

CHALLENGE

Resistance to Feedback

Students dismiss or react negatively to feedback

A) Provide feedback in a way that doesn’t challenge students’ ideas too much, to avoid resistance.

B) Start each project with a “feedback pact” where everyone commits to giving and receiving feedback constructively.

C) Avoid giving feedback if students react negatively to it, to maintain a positive atmosphere.

3

SOLUTION

A) Reduce the difficulty of tasks to encourage students to take them on.

B) Frame tasks as opportunities, address concerns, set clear milestones.

C) Allow students to work only on tasks they feel comfortable with to ensure participation.

Avoidance of Challenge

A student or group avoids difficult tasks

CHALLENGE

Resistance to Feedback

Students dismiss or react negatively to feedback

A) Provide feedback in a way that doesn’t challenge students’ ideas too much, to avoid resistance.

B) Start each project with a “feedback pact” where everyone commits to giving and receiving feedback constructively.

C) Avoid giving feedback if students react negatively to it, to maintain a positive atmosphere.

3

SOLUTION

Frame tasks as opportunities, address concerns, set clear milestones.

Avoidance of Challenge

A student or group avoids difficult tasks

CHALLENGE

Resistance to Feedback

Students dismiss or react negatively to feedback

Start each project with a “feedback pact” where everyone commits to giving and receiving feedback constructively.

3

SOLUTION

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Over-planning

Students get stuck planning and don’t know how to begin

CHALLENGE

Excessive Free Time

Students finish tasks quickly and appear idle

Lack of Creative Confidence

Students hesitate to share ideas, fearing judgment

4

SOLUTION

Encourage breaking down into smaller tasks, set a "planning deadline", provide project timeline examples.



Over-planning

Students get stuck planning and don’t know how to begin

CHALLENGE

There probably isn’t! Set micro deadlines. If you finish early, add on to the project (e.g. create a marketing campaign about your work)

Excessive Free Time

Students finish tasks quickly and appear idle

Lack of Creative Confidence

Students hesitate to share ideas, fearing judgment

Begin brainstorming sessions with a "bad idea bonanza" where the goal is to generate the silliest ideas possible. This breaks the ice and lowers inhibitions around idea sharing.

4

SOLUTION

Time Constraints

Project scope is too broad, leading to unfinished work

CHALLENGE

Difficulties in Scope Management

Projects become too complex or too simplistic

5

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SOLUTION

A)Invite other students to be mediators

or

B)Challenge students to devise an alternative solution

Interpersonal Conflicts

Students are fighting or can’t resolve a disagreement

CHALLENGE

A) Introduce a mandatory planning phase with approval checkpoints, in a presentation

B) Have the students create a plan on each day, no need to plan ahead

Action without Planning

Groups dive into execution without a clear plan

Mismatched Team Skills

Group projects suffer from unequal skill distributions

A) Have students list their skills and interests at the start. Form teams ensuring a mix of these skills and interests,

or

B) Allow students to form teams based on complementary skills.

SOLUTION

A)Invite other students to be mediators

or

B)Challenge students to devise an alternative solution

Interpersonal Conflicts

Students are fighting or can’t resolve a disagreement

CHALLENGE

A) Introduce a mandatory planning phase with approval checkpoints, in a presentation

B) Have the students create a plan on each day, no need to plan ahead

Action without Planning

Groups dive into execution without a clear plan

Mismatched Team Skills

Group projects suffer from unequal skill distributions

A) Have students list their skills and interests at the start. Form teams ensuring a mix of these skills and interests,

or

B) Allow students to form teams based on complementary skills.