Learning Groups
How have you used learning groups in your classroom & how successful were you in their use?
I have tried multiple ways to form learning groups. I have let the students select their own groups and I have also assigned groups and particular tasks that they need to complete. I have found that the students work more effectively when groups and tasks are assigned randomly. When the students are allowed to choose they tend to work with only certain people and they can get off track from their assignement.
In my class, students are put into teams of 3 to 4, to do a variety of activities in class and lab.
I set my class into learning groups out on the hydraulic boards. It give them a broad range to learn from. Not only are they learning from themselves, but they are learning by doing hands on. I will either direct them into the area or explain to them what will happen when we draw power flows through the exercise.
Hi Milton!
I like the fact that you make the extra effort to ensure that students are compatible with other group members. But - I would like to pose this question - What do you think would happen if empoyers were presented with the same challenge?
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
In electronics it is very important that the students get a good understanding of the concept,so i try and keep groups to 4 max 5 this is hard due to class loads. By observing the groups it is not long befor i know which students are having problems and the one's that excell also which students personality may clash.I then tactfully reasign task and move students arround. Haveing students that work well together makes learing alot easier.
learning groups are good for training exercises. For example they promote safety, communication, peer learninig. The down side if not supervised closely one or two teams will expierence what i call noachiever status as they will styand around with no leader or supervison and not learn or wont ask , also if one person is shy or unshure of his or herself they will duck out and not learn.
I use learning groups for studying for class tests and it works very well the students help develop each other.
Hi Michael!
Sounds like you have a very workable classroom for your students. I really like the way you encourage collaboration.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
The way we teach in general works off of the learning group model and we have found it to be very successful on different levels.
The tables the students sit at in my classroom are designed for three students and that is the size of each student group. Within the classroom I have ten groups working on assignments. I encourage all ten groups to work collaboratively that way different view points may be expressed or different solutions to the problems can be heard that a single group may not have not even thought of.
The lab work is also done in the classroom (computer lab) and even though these are individual assignments the students tend to cluster next to each others computers by groups so they can help each other out.
We have always used 3-4 person groups for most tasks, however some tasks require individual work. The groups are randomly selected,so that the same people dont always work together, and there is a mix.
It mainly will depend on the lesson for the day as to whether or not I use learning groups. I find that they can be useful in simulated scenarios, but in most of the learning they tend to degrade into socializing so I tend to stay away from them. I do use them in support of labs so that the students can go and look up specifications and that tends to help move along the learning.
I pick use to have the students pick there own groups but I was noticing the few beeing very good and the other few being very bad...I now pick the groups for the students and have noticed a huge improvement across the board.
Hi Wayne!
So does each student in the group get an individual grade or do you grade by group or a combination of both?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I promote learning in groups the sharing of ideas is very important from one student to another. In most cases student talk on simular levels and can make another student understand better.
i like to try and pair up the students by there knowledge. i like to get the more knowlegable students to help out the less knowlegable.
yes, using groups can be very succesful if done correctly. I have assigned a topic to each group, they do the research and they give a presintation to the rest or the class on their findings.
In lab my students normally work in a group from 3 to 5 students. I allow the students to pick their own groups. On average the group gets along quite well. By watching and listening to the groups you can gauge how they understood the classroom work. There are times in one group doesn't quite gel together. And members of the group request to be removed from this group. I tell the students that they will not be moved and that they need to learn to get along and do their work together. As in life and working in an industry not everybody you work with you will get along with.
Use groups in Phase 2 lab always and in Phase 29; and make groups responsible for their attendance towards mod day. W
