Group assignments improve an online course

Paper in proceeding, 2023

We study the effects of a set of group assignments in an introductory mathematics
course taught online. An analysis of the assignments that students turned in, of peer
reviews and of answers to a questionnaire about the students’ experiences with the
group assignments shows that the aims that the instructors had set for the assignments
were fulfilled to a great extent. More specifically, the students appreciated social contact,
they felt that they learned meaningful course content, and the socio-mathematical
norms promoted in the assignments, where discussion and communication are rewarded,
were accepted by the students. The answers also indicate frustration towards
peers who are not participating actively, difficulties discussing material without having
time to process it alone first, and difficulties communicating mathematics online.