Being able to discuss one's own work and the work of others in a genuinely thoughtful, reflective way is an essential skill for fostering artistic growth. At the secondary level, often these group activities are called a Critique, a Crit, Evaluation or Presentation Day. The most valuable kind of discussions, however, are those that do not focus upon the final product but instead are held during the creative process, whereby an artist may reflect on decisions made up until that point and speculate about future techniques and media that might further their own artistic expression.

Holding a Group Share activity in the computer lab is an excellent opportunity for students to show each other new techniques they have discovered or been taught, especially since they will inevitably begin to develop competency at staggered rates. Often the results of Group Shares push students to reach for new heights; they are encouraged more not by the external motivation of the lesson but by the success of their peers in applying new skills.

A few standard rules for Group Shares include:

• Everyone in class is present, both mentally and physically. All students have stopped working on their own computers and have focused their attention on one student's work at a time.
• Criticism should be constructive and phrased in ways that build confidence in the artist that problems can be worked through.
• Suggestions will be made about new techniques to reach a desired effect.
• Students may occasionally elect to skip contributing artwork to a Group Share, but must participate in the majority of them as an artist and all of them as a critic.

Motivational questions for Group Shares will vary upon the content being discussed, but a few standard questions directed toward the artist and her peers will help get the conversation flowing:

• Describe what you see here.
• What technique did you use to get that effect? Can you explain it to us?
• What impresses you most about this image?
• What did you struggle the most with? Did you find a solution yet?
• How could you take this idea further?
• What do you need to make this idea complete?

By the time a few Group Shares have been held in a safe, supportive environment, students typically feel comfortable enough to present their work to others with confidence (including to those outside the class such as parents, peers, etc).

For more information about Group Shares, refer to this document about questions teachers can ask students to help them reflect upon, respond to and revisit their digital artworks.