Jon,
this is very true. And many jobs now involve working in groups or a team setting & so these experiences will help prepare our students for the future.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have seen the class underdog emerge into a successful student.
Learning groups create positive outcomes by creating student diversity and allowing all students learning time
Creating a team atmosphere is a huge positive. Input from a diverse group opens student minds to other ideas.
Putting students in groups has several positive outcomes. First, students get to share ideas and get different viewpoints. Second, they learn to work with others and overcome problems just as they would have to do in a job setting and in everyday life situations. Most importantly, sometimes students can help others understand material when the students might be having problems understanding the instructor.
DONNA,
so true. While the students are our customers, we also typically know better than they what is best for them in career prep & I believe these work groups are good prep.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Jaceita,
it is nice to break up the groups & randomly select them as again this is more reflective of work environments.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This statement is very true. Lots of students do not like working in groups, but group encounters have lots of postitive outcomes. Such as helping students overcome those fears and deal on a personal and professional level. This helps them when they get out in their career fields and deal with lots of diverse individuals and make they feel like they can contibute to society.
Agreed I work with a diversity of students some feel comfortable working in "their" certain groups. So that it is radom I have the students do an exercize that would randomly slit them into other groups.
Positve outcomes in class can come from group setting letting them know what is exspected of them in order to learn
Some of the positive outcomes of putting students into learning groups are increasing participation, learning to utilize other members strengths, organizing and executing plans and improving learning outcomes. I learned alot about this subject taking this course and it will help me in future classroom group activities.
Shawna,
ths smaller group sizes really do help with that individualized attention both from you & other students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find that when students work in groups I can more easily give specialized attention when needed. The questions from 2-3 groups of 6-8 are better formed and shows me as the instructor where I can make emphasis. The students are able to ask direction where the group may not agree so that I may reinforce learning. I prefer to do most skills practice in groups.
Clay,
along with the application to the work environment, it also helps the students learn to hear the ideas/opinions of others & to express their own.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Recently, I started using student groups in the costing / mathematical portions of my course. The outcome has been fantastic. Students were more open and frank in discussions with one another, made great tutors for each other, and aquired varying perspectives on how to solve problems. It also increased their comfort level with each other and made them more of a team.
The positive outcome for students is being able to practice applying the new theory with the assignment they are given.
An advantage of being in a learning group is that each student gets to increase their knowledge by seeing how others tackle the assignment and apply the new idea. Since everyone sees a problem differently -- has a different learning style and perspective -- other students will also pick up tips to help them hone their own problem-solving skills.
The positive outcome for instructors is being able to observe the learning process as it unfolds before you, and watching the different elements of what you just taught being grasped and applied by your various students.
Some students look forward to this opportunity, some are uncomfortable with it. It is a positive influence for both.
Those that look forward to may have different reasons: some maybe taking control, some enjoying the chance to share and interact. Those that are shy are challenged to participate and overcome or at least learn to deal with that shyness.
In graphic design, professionals rarely work alone. I have my classes work on small group projects to help them become confident working in a group dynamic. I also think this helps them express themselves when discussing the work of the group and their individual work.
My students seem to interact better and get to know each other better. It also allows my quieter students to be involved and to "break out of their shells."
Most jobs require that you work with others at some point. This is particularly true in healthcare, where it essential for everyone to work together. Working in a small groups helps the students practice skills that they will be using in their new professions.
