title: The interrelationships between student approaches to learning and group work.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As part of the process of nursing students becoming 'work ready' within future health care teams, students need the skills to work collaboratively. In higher education, establishing group work assignments is a teaching method to develop group work skills. Not only is group work an important teaching method to develop effective group work skills but it is also used to activate deep learning. However, to date, there has been a lack of research on the impact of group work on student approaches to learning. This study aimed to examine the interrelationships between students, group work characteristics, and their approaches to learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey design was used, before and after a targeted academic skills development intervention, which had a specific focus on the development of group work skills. The sample involved first year undergraduate nursing students undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing programme at a regional university in Australia. A total of 92 students completed the pre-survey, and 102 students completed the post-survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using quantitative surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metacognitive awareness was found to best predict a deep approach to learning. Young age and experiencing discomfort in group work were two predictors of a surface approach to learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that nurse educators should develop strategies that support students' metacognitive awareness in relation to group work, and also support those students who feel less comfortable in working with others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia. Electronic address: lisa.beccaria@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beccaria
authors.affiliation: Learning and Teaching Support, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia. Electronic address: megan.kek@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kek
authors.affiliation: Research, Teaching & Learning Division, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Batchelor, Northern Territory 0845, Australia. Electronic address: henk.huijser@batchelor.edu.au.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huijser
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland Fraser Coast Campus, 161 Old Maryborough Road, Hervey Bay, Queensland 4655, Australia. Electronic address: jayln.rose@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jayln
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Learning and Teaching Support, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia. Electronic address: lindy.kimmins@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lindy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kimmins
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: First-year experience; Group work; Nursing education; Student approaches to learning