I teach Head & Neck Anatomy. At the beginning of each class session, we will review the content that was presented at the previous lecture and discuss any questions or clear up any confusions. The students then divide into their assigned teams of 4 and take a quiz. They will be provided with one "hands on" learning tool, like a skull to assist their discussions. My role than switches to course facilitator assisting with peer to peet learning. It is so much fun to watch and listen to the students demonstrate their newly acquired knowledge base of the material. The positive outcome for me is that they are an essential part of their learining, and may not even realize it.
Learning groups teach students how to work effectively with others as well as give them a sense of individual responsiblity in a group setting.
The positive outcomes of putting students into learning groups is creating a comfortable learning environment that even quiet students can feel involved.
Some of the positive outcomes of putting students in learning groups are the students get to know one other, they learn about teamwork, it also helps the shy students become use to working with others and to utilize information presented from others.
Learning in groups helps students get ready for the workforce. a group always brings out the leaders, followers, one that don't want to contribute, etc. This is a great way to learn differences, respect differences, and learn to work out conflict due to differences. Also, this is a great way to see how a project comes together amazingly with many different insights and experiences to bring to the table.
Students normally take responsibility for their part of the group project and want to participate in the development of the project. The do not want to feel that they are not contributing so they will put forth more effort. They will help others in the group because it is a team effort and the effort will affect their grade. Each member that is in a group normally wants to be a part of a winning organization / team and does not want to be the one that does not pull their weight within the group causing group failure.
Student groups can help those students struggling through a subject, get other student support that they may have been hesitant to ask for prior.
They help each other, get used to working in groups with peers and others, learn how to challenge each other, learn how to help each other and learn how to work as a team as opposed to on their own.
Even with a small class, allowing them to work together on a project encourages some students to ask questions they may be afraid to ask me during class and allows others to step up and show their abilities as leaders.
I always assign a group project. I feel that it helps students to get to know one another better which will prepare them for developing fundamental work relationships when they graduate...
In addition, it breaks up the activities of the class so it's not just them listening to me lecture the entire time. Through collaboration, they also learn a great deal about the theme of the textbook because I incorporate activities from each chapter into the project.
Students can work with each others' strengths & weaknesses. This encourages risk-taking and allows students to learn from and teach each other.
Students learn what it means to work in groups. They learn that all members have roles and that they rely on others to help complete the group's goals. In essence, they learn to work for the group's goals and not the individual's goals. They have to look at the bigger picture.
Some of positive outcomes of putting students into learning group are.
1.0 They get to know each-others better.
2.0 They can inputs all of their ideas together.
3.0 They can learn from each others(from something
good or some others mistakes)
4.0 They can learn how team work.
5.0 They can share duties & take a responsibilities
among themselves.
6.0 You as instructor can easy to manage all your
students and be able to help them right away
when they need your help as a team.
Margaret ,
this is great as the group project is not a tack on but reflects the work environment that they are preparing to enter.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
In my lab classes the students must work in groups, they seem to have more fun while learning at the same time. In groups they seem to want to do their best in front of each other so overall the students grades are better and what they retain is much more then if they worked alone.
Teamwork is a positive outcome of putting students into learning groups. The dental hygiene program where I work puts students in to groups to mimic the facets of clinical practice.
I have noticed that this enables the students to form bonds with each other. They not only share ideas regarding completing the tasks at hand, but it fosters a collegiate relationship, and encourages study groups.
One positive outcome is that students with learning disabilities invariably receive the support they need from their peers to successfully complete their program.
I also find it interesting that those students that struggle in didactics are often strong students in the clinical component of the program.
They are very happy to return the help their fellow students gave them.
Based on what I have seen in teaching courses, putting students into groups allows them to participate more by sharing their experiences and knowledge. It helps them to develop into stronger students because they are actively working together and learning from each other. In addition, for the most part, it helps them to stay focused and determined as they are taking a more active role in the group. However, this does not work some times, but a gentle reminder can get the student that is not actively participating back on task.
I am not a big fan of group projects as a whole. Some times, equipment shortages dictates a group project and there are times when groups gel well and leadership is established. However, it's been my experience that a few students do the entire work load and many freeload off of the hard workers.
The students may learn from one another and they get real experience in teamwork. Many jobs require teamwork to accomplish their goals.
I use learning groups to establish and reinforce team work. Often times without this students tend to become loners and the weaker students fall behind. I always encourage netwroking with fellow classmates, espeically those with those students who are grasping concepts.
Teamwork is an important part of being in the work world. By utilizing learning groups students who are not familar with this learn the importance of working as a team.
