Hi Jennifer!
I think that group work is very valuable for a number of obvious reasons. But I believe that students should understand the groups process and why it is so important as it applies to the work place.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I agree Ricky! It gives that more reserved student to use their creativity.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
When placed in groups, more students have the opportunity to share without as much self inflicted pressure. As well the leader types can feel valuable and help by organizing responses or rallying the participants.
Working in smaller groups within the class will help the learners that have a difficult time opening up. With a smaller group, insted of the whole class, these learners can feel as though there input is more important and be more forward with their ideas.
Hi Robert!
Positive outcomes don't come without inspiration of instructors, other students, friends, family and life experiences. Working in groups can be both challenging and rewarding.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
As a writing instructor, I don't often use group assignments. I have used them, though, and I think even for a field like mine that so relies on the development of personal style as much as technical ability, groupwork allows the development of mutual inspiration.
A lot of the material that comes from me (or from other examples shown in class) might be perceived as unattainable, or unrealistic, or irrelevant. But seeing their peers perform up close and personal - seeing their own colleagues work - shows students if nothing else that the work CAN be done by students. After all, they're all watching other students do it. This is effective even if (and perhaps especially if) there is the natural leader within that group. Students begin to see that students can produce whatever it is that I'm asking them to produce. If for whatever reason they decide that they can't aspire to produce what I do, it might be less intimidating for them to realize that they CAN aspire to produce what one of their own produces.
My problem with group work in the kitchen is that after a couple of weeks I see that there will be one student who always makes the dessert, one who always makes rice, etc. You have to go and pull them out of their comfort zone to get them involved in things they don't know well. At practical time, I let them work towards their strength.
Hi Eric!
So, as the instructor, how do you assist those student who do not learn at the same speed as other students? Also, Have you observed those techniques that students use for processing information? If so, would you please share?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
Ed106 Facilitator
those who do not learn at the sames speed as the others can absorb more information. The members of the group might have an interesting technique for processing the information better that could be useful for the student.
Hi Sandy!
It's great when a group can become a team where everyone is a contributor in their own way.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I think in an academic setting the advantage is the variety of perspectives applied to a task or problem. I teach as a Chef Instructor and in group work in the cooking assignments leaders are readily identified and those who are lacking skills show up too. It is sometimes easier for the student not as proficient to spend time with a talented student before showing their work to the instructor for the all important "grade". I think when to use the groups becomes doubly important in the kitchen so each student can take ownership of their success and learned skills.
There is immediate empowerment, if students are given the instructioin to direct a project as a group. Not everyone comprehends this immediately, but if a leader is found and a list of tasks provided. But, now it is their peers and not the instructor running the operation. Make them figure out what is important based on specific guidelines.
mark
I believe that the more shy student finds their voice and shares more. It becomes easier to see everyone trying to make the project a success.
I feel it helps the students to communicate with one another especially when they are new to the program. There are times good friendships are developed, a buddy system to rely on for homework assignments and other personal issues. Bonding with one another gets them ready for the outside world when they go out and practice what they have learned in class.
Having students work in groups definitely has great benefits. This allows the students to work with each other and learn about different ideas. Small groups bring out leadership in some students and allows them to help others when ordinarily they may not do it.
My experience of putting students into groups has been mixed at times. I usually get excellent results and have full and equal participation from group members. The difficulty is sometimes that students are lazy and try to put all of the work off onto thier other group members. This is the situation where it requires extra monitoring on my part and additional interaction with the group.
Hi Adrian!
Obviously, positive outcomes are always the way we want things to end up. However, I believe that we outcomes are less than positive, there are very positive lessons to be learned. The saying goes if you don't have some bad that you don't know how really good the good is!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 facilitator
They tend to feed off of each other. As well, they can help to encourage others by offers tips of success or knowledge for further development.
Great point Kimberly! I've seen some wonderfully positive outcomes from group work, not only the 'product' itself, but enhanced self-esteem and heightened class morale.
Used group work in a Critical Thinking Class in order to demonstrate the importance of understanding the problem before designing or crafting the solution. The positive outcome is to illustrate that there is more than one way to solve the problem.
