The "Group" hider
Patricia,
I've found that using the "small group" technique to pressure the inattentive student into working sometimes backfires. That is, all we've done is frustrate the other small group members by forcing them to deal with the inattentive student and pick up his or her workload. What technique do you recommend we use to to ensure we are fair to other group members as well and not imposing an additional workload on them?
Thank you, Bill
I agree, the hiders tend to try to stay with the same group each time. They know which of their fellow students will allow them to slide along in a group setting. I try to figure out a mix of students that are challenged and more gifted to pair together so the groups are a little more balanced. Down side is that the challenged students can slow up the better students but I stress that helping each other in the group setting is going to help all students in the group. The better students tend to make sure that everyone progresses together, they are also the ones that make sure that I know that someone is not pulling their weight in the group and I can pull that student to the side to talk to in private
As an ex hider I understand part of what scares them about the class setting. The fear of embarrassment or worse, the fear that they aren't keeping up with the rest of the class can be very stressful. I always try to get the hider to feel secure with adding to discussions by stressing that I don't expect them to know all of the answers. That's why they are students! Whatever they say or ask is accepted as a valued addition to learning the subject. Most of the time the hiders end up in the front row!
Hi Leigh,
We have to do our due diligence by bringing out the "group hider". I like to encourage this type of student to become actively involved. I like giving them leadership roles to help them come out of their shell.
Patricia Scales
I have learned that the "group hider" may be using a reliable coping mechanism that has always worked in the past to shield them from potential embarassment or lack of preparation. the "group hider" in NOT always inattentive; they simply prefer to stay in the shadows because it is safe. If there was a way to show them the 'sunny' parts of the classroom are relatively safe, then I believe they would eventually begin to come out of hiding.
I agree. Changing the groups occurs often in my class. For example, they number off from the front to the back, then row by row. It gets them interacting with enough people to not be a constant nag to other students, while at the same time forcing the student to continue to portray themselves in a socialy acceptable light. In other words, you keep the student that wants to "hide" constantly meeting new people so they are never comfortable enought to hide.
I find that the hider tends to try to be in the same group each time. By changing up the groups, there are students that will not allow the hider to get away with not participating. I will also call on the hider to share the group conclussion. We will also do group activities that require individual performance - such as each person has to come up with a specific treatment outcome, then come together in their group and share, then the group demonstrates.
Hope this helps
