Learning groups for new students or the beginning of a class enables students to get to know each other. It can also add/remove any preconceived notions with the student or the teacher. Do you feel that placing students in learning groups could be used as an icebreaker?
Many different positive outcomes happen at the end of a group project.
-Some students actually get to experience what it's like to work in a group for the first time. This is professional experience that they can take with them to their new career.
- A sense of pride and accomplishment happens when the group knows that everyone did their part to have a successful result.
- Students learn to deal with opposing pesonalitlies. If their is a coflict or problem during the project, I try to help the students realize that there is always something to learn in a situation like that.
- Realization that the skills being learned can actually be put into practical use.
Greetings Deborah!
I like your comment about teamwork. Teamwork is a critical soft skill requirement of today's employers and a skill that most people have to learn. Classroom group work is certainly a good starting place.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I find that some of the quieter students tend to speak up more when in a smaller group, where they feel more comfortable. It also gives the students the idea that everyone's opinions can be different and that there are new ways to look at things. I think the students feel a sense of accomplishment as a team.
Learning teams/groups help students with accountability when there is a graded group project. When there is a group project due, most students tend to work a little harder to meet deadlines.
Students develop confidence and teamplayer skills with learning groups.
Students gain experience and confidence from working with a group. This confidence can then benefit them in the workplace.
Some students are more comfortable within smaller group setting than with the entire class. They may open up and ask more questions or share more ideas.
I'm in agreement with the increase in active participation, the benefit to the shy student, the possibility for building friendships and collegialty that can carry over into other classes and beyond, and the opportunity for students to take greater responsibility and ownership.
One more benefit is the change of pace. In classes three or four hours long, a small group activity is a welcome bit of variety.
Hi Christopher!
A really great approach - immediate reenforcement of a new concept.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Learning groups are very effective in reaching higher levels of learning. First, I give the students an informal lecture on any topic. Then, I break them down into groups and have the students relate the lessons learned to something they already know. This allows all the students to participate equally towards the discussion.
Hi Elizabeth!
Great observations! I continue to believe that success for group work is very dependent on how the instructor establishes the ground rules and continues to monitor progress toward expected outcomes.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitatior
Putting students in groups helps in a number of ways. It helps to take the pressure off of contributing to conversations because it is among peers. Also it helps the students who are having difficulties to be teamed up with the students who are grasping the material so they can gain rapport while getting the students' perspective of the information. Allowing them to feel like they are a part of the "team" will hopefully break them out of their shell and they will be more willing to participate in class discussions. It will build confidence if they are able to come up with answers along with their teammates.
Positive outcomes for the groups is more feedback. People can be less intimidated. Feel free to speak easily without being self conscious. Brainstorming can come easier. More confident in smaller groups. More creativity expressed.
The positive outcomes for groups allows for more individuals to express opinion and have discourse on a topic of importance.
Changing the group composition also helps get the class to know each other better as students. This often will build relationships outside the class to improve learning as a class as a whole.
another benefit to learning groups--when they work well--is that students continue their cohorts outside of class and support each others' learning. sometimes, they need each other--particularly when course material becomes challenging. they can study for tests together, and proof each others papers, and listen to each others' presentations before they are given before the whole class. peer feedback can help a lot, in terms of individuals' performance.
Positive outcomes of student learning groups is that people learn to be more comfortable with each other. They feel more secure with what they are doing and not so 'shy' to stand up on their own to talk about something...because they are in a smaller group instead of in front of the whole class. My class sizes are small, but some of the people still would rather be in a group before they address the rest of the class.
it seems students are more vocal in group settings where they have the cover of other minds and voice to interject their own ideas and opinions.
When I group students together on an assignment, it not only familiarizes them with the subject, but also gets them to communicate with their fellow classmates. It allows everyone to particiate in the subject matter. It always amazes me how close and connected they become. I am always careful to mix them up so everyone gets to meet their other classmates. It opens dicussions and they all benefit from it, including myself.
One of the most positive outcomes for putting students into learning groups is the power of competition. Generally speaking, several groups will be working on the same assignment. The natural human trait of competition amongst the group kicks in. Additionally members of the team will now feel more compelled to pull their own weight so that the "TEAM" will not fail.
There tends to be the one or two students who shine, who are powerhouses of drive; to be able to share those students with the ones who need the spark is a great way of really bringing the whole class to success.
