Making Group Work Effective and Enjoyable
CATE TA Workshops
August 19, 2026
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Location
Lincoln Hall Room 301
Address
707 South Morgan Street, Chicago, IL
Calendar
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Overview
Much of student learning happens through social interaction, and TAs play a key role in shaping those experiences. Whether you're guiding classroom discussions, leading a lab section or leading a lecture section, you can foster more effective collaboration by facilitating structured and inclusive group work. In this workshop, we'll explore how group work supports student learning and examine practical strategies for managing group dynamics. We’ll also reflect on previous experiences with group work to inform how to make collaborative learning in our classrooms more engaging and enjoyable for the students. We'll also consider ways to encourage student participation and accountability, even when you're not the one designing the activity. Come away with tools you can use to support productive peer learning in your own teaching context.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe how group work aids student learning while also making classrooms more manageable.
- Identify common group work challenges and brainstorm strategies to navigate them.
- Explore and adapt strategies to make group activities more engaging for students.
WORKSHOP FORMAT: This workshop will be held in Lincoln Hall room 301 (707 S. Morgan Street)
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR: Katie Kruzan, kkruza3@uic.edu
WORKSHOP CONTACT: teaching@uic.edu
Inclusivity & Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events accessible. In-person events typically involve a combination of presentation and discussion-based activities. We welcome ASL interpreters, note-takers, and accompanying assistants to in-person CATE events.
TA workshops will take place in-person primarily in Lincoln Hall, 707 S. Morgan St with larger capacity workshops being held in Lecture Center C, 802 S. Morgan St. To access the second floor of Lincoln Hall there is an elevator in Grant Hall with skybridge access to the second and third floors of Lincoln Hall via Douglas Hall (UIC campus map).
Accessible restrooms are available on the first and second floors of Lincoln Hall and Douglas Hall, and an accessible all gender restroom is available on the first floor of Douglas Hall next to the women's restroom. There are 20 fully separated all gender bathroom stalls in Lecture Center E (806 S. Halsted St.) located on the West side of the building. To find additional all-gender restrooms visit the all-gender restroom campus map on the gender and sexuality center website.
For more access info or access requests, please email teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Jul 10, 2026
Date updated
Jul 10, 2026