Design your assignment to have multiple checkpoints and recommended due dates to ensure students are on track, you may not grade content but you can check to make sure it's completed

Wait until the second or third week of classes to build the groups in Blackboard, to allow for late registrations

Build the groups in Blackboard, then create a distribution list in Outlook, then create a Team in MS Teams, then a channel for each group

Create a free account in Trello (a project management tool), create one team and then separate boards for each group, send invitations to each student, and then create a link to the boards in their Teams channels

Ask them to designate a project manager, and choose roles for teams members (e.g. SME, design lead, tech lead). Encourage them to play to their strengths

Ask them to schedule weekly status meetings through Teams, tell them you can track whether they meet or not

Conflict resolution - try to resolve your issues in the group first, if you cannot then come to me for mediation

Grading - "I grade equally but will make adjustments if there are complaints about under-performance by a group member."

Explain group formation - Often students desire to form their own groups or question how groups are assigned. Proactive transparency applying professional practice to this dynamic will clarify these concerns and questions.

Post a list of the groups on Blackboard - This will support accountability and empower students with independent directive as they adjust to this new team dynamic.

Introduce teams - Be mindful to respect privacy and use the official Seneca email accounts when making introductions to groups, especially when working with external partners. Students sometimes change their accounts in i3 to personal accounts. Blackboard also can form groups, providing a solid internal communication channel to organize your engagement with each team.

Define channels for internal communications to organize contact - Provide student’s guidance regarding how to communicate and encourage best practice. Suggest platforms such as MS Teams and explain the value of such platforms to encourage active participation and or capturing of ideas in one organized place.

Ensure access to necessary technology - Encourage dialogue between students to confirm access to technology, including specific platforms or data plans. Working in a global virtual environment not all platforms are accessible in all regions.

Group contract or internal communication policy - Consider adding a course deliverable of this nature to stimulate conversation. A group contract, or an even more detailed official internal communications policy, will assist students to organize communications, define channels and timing, and proactively discuss other parameters such as voting policies to manage engagement.

Academic Integrity - Creation of a group contract can motivate the necessary dialogue to ensure all participating students are informed regarding Seneca’s standards of academic integrity. Mandatory completion of Seneca’s modules noted in a group contract can proactively identify a gap in knowledge . This in turn affords the time (prior to completion of assessments) to provide support to aid in student success.

Stay in touch - Including a check in meeting as part of the weekly scheduled course content may provide additional support to the student groups as they learn to collaborate in a professional context.