Legendary retired UCLA basketball coach John Wooden is nearly as famous for his ability to mentor young people as he is for his unmatched winning record. His former players speak affectionately about their coach's maxims for success, which apply both on and off the court. These include the gems "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail" and "Little things make big things happen." Above all, Coach Wooden understands that learning is continuous and that processing what has occurred is as important as the task itself. In his words, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." Yet this principle is often overlooked in classrooms during the rush to move on to the next unit of instruction. Wooden might caution, "Be quick, but don't hurry."

When it comes to building the skills of students who are engaged in productive group work, it is vital that they have an opportunity to process their experience after they've completed a task. They should take time to examine their contributions and those of their groupmates. Group work improves when students discuss and assess their interaction, the progress they made toward their goal, and what did and did not work, and then go on to talk about what they'll do differently in the future.