Mary,
I agree. Much of the work environment is shifting to this type of work group so we need to help prepare our students for this.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Preparing them to work as part of a team is essential for their professional growth and development.
Quiet students feel they can speak more openly in a small group! Contribution may be greater in a group , individuals can concentrate on the strong points and increase their overall comprehension of the meterial because groups act as a self help tutoring group .
Cheryl,
yes these groups really can be great reflections of how the professional work world will be for them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I agree. Being a team player is very important in the hospital and this is a good way to encourage helping each other to develop working well together as a team. It also allows for some of the "weaker" students to work a little harder to keep up with the pace of the "stronger" students
Positives outcomes of putting students on learning teams is that it helps them to develop teamwork or team player mentalities. A group is stronger than an individual by themselves. Collabritive efforts bring better results.
Samantha ,
yes, the learning groups provide a great avenue for the peer to peer learning you talk about here.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Samantha ,
yes, the learning groups provide a great avenue for the peer to peer learning you talk about here.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I find that learning groups can be very helpful in certain situations because they allow the students to learn from each other. It is vital that students can express themselves in a group since we are preparing them for a patient/ customer oriented profession.
Our students need to interact well in a group setting, because they will be working with many people. Utilizing learning groups facilitates this because they must listen to opinions and deal with situations that will help them interact with others and develop their soft skills.
Ellen,
yes, this is a great observation. A big part of the learning comes in reflecting on their work together & the discussions had.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I often tell students that, while groups may be challenging, the majority of their professional life will be a group activity! I think the positive benefit, if the activity or project is well-outlined, is developing rapport with co-workers and learning to express one's talents in a group setting. Also, enhancing critical thinking skills if discussion is a prevalent factor.
The students learn how to work with each other in the group, just as they will need to do in the business world. They may develop a support system to help each other in the class. They can compare/contrast ideas and concepts. Someone that is shy about answering in class may be more comfortable speaking and participating in a small group.
I think a positive outcome is a frank and honest discussion about about the effectiveness of a learning group after an assignment or class is complete. Students should be able to reflect on the engagement and success of the group and comment on their concerns regarding effective working relationships and group actions and decisions.
Jon ,
yes, there is always so much learning opportunity in the groups beyond just the task at hand. You mentioned several of them here & they really are great prep for the career world.
Dr. Ryan Meers
There are many positive things that come from group learning situations. By carefully placing students who are often reluctant to participate into select groups, they may be more easily drawn into participation. Very reluctant students can even be assigned to be a group leader.
Group problem solving dynamics better prepares students for integration into the workplace. They learn they can be an active part of solution finding. It teaches the important skills of negotiation when conflicting ideas arise. It can teach the importance of sensitivity to other's feelings and ideas as everone is encouraged to participate.
I like the way group dynamics encourages everyone to take an active part in the productivity of the group to get a better grade or group evaluation. Sometimes motivation stimulated by the group for action on everyone's part is even stronger than the an indivual's singular motivation might be.
billie,
yes, this helps students learn to think through their own positions as well as to appreciate & respect the opinions/ideas of others.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Curran,
well put & a great point. While we don't want to discourage students, we also want them to be challenged & realize that sometimes that is where the most learning occurs.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I agree getting different point of views froms other students can be very helpful
Putting students into learning groups offers the opportunity for the shy students to work in a less intimidating experience as well as increases participation of all members of the class. One of my favorite group activities is to take a complex topic and divide it up into smaller parts, have each group become the expert on that part and then share it with the rest of the group, aiding the entire class in seeing the interrelationship of each smaller part to the whole of the complex topic.
Tracy Chesney, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE
Sometimes the most positive outcomes are the ones that come through a little adversity. Positioning students to encounter an alternative perspective is often the fastest way to grow them.
