Miriam,
So true & most of our students will be working in groups & teams for the rest of their careers so it's very important & beneficial to get them used to that work right now.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Often the most positive outcomes are acheived when students are exposed to others of different backgrounds and perspectives. The stimulation of looking at any subject in a different light can open minds in unexspected ways and the most "enlightened" instructors can create groups with that outcome in mind.
You know, I have wanted to share something else with you about this subject. I watched, in awe, as something happened in a previous English class. One of the students came to class with very poor English skills. He even wrote smaller to high those deficiencies from me. Sitting next to him, a young woman formed a supportive relationship with him. I watched as his English abilities suddenly began to improve in every piece of writing. I noticed that the young girl read his writing and talked with him about it. In other words, she was able to communicate with him even better than I was able to do so. I watched as this group nurtured each other in
English skills.
Students gain experience in working with others, can develop frienships or professional relationships, learn from others, teach others, and develop relationship skills: listening, taking turns, etc.
These are only a few of the many positive outcomes from learning groups.
Billy,
So true! And you make an excellent point here that both groups of learners have fears & anxieties. No one has this all figured out & they can often help each other, while learning to communicate with someone outside of their peer group.
Dr. Ryan Meers
It may help in overcoming some of the fears that the younger traditional students bring to college courses, and the nontraditional students bring to the learning environment. They can be of mutual support as the younger uses their social skills and shares academic skills with the non-traditional student. The non-traditional can share some of their learnings from the work environment. As the Harvard instructor stated, it is an excellent time to teach communication skills.
I feel that students can learn alot from thier peers or other students may say what the instructor say in a different way and the other students learn it then. I use groups when we begin to diagnose electrical problems on motorcycles, I give them a practice bike that they can discuss the diagnostic process with each other and bounce ideas off one another before actually working on the motorcycle. This excercise is done before they individually diagnose the bikes.
Sheila,
Very true. I have found that groups help the members to gain a better appreciation for others' abilities & opinions.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jeff,
Yes, the truth is there are some people who simply don't like to speak in large groups. Yet this doesn't mean they do not have any good ideas & the smaller groups are a great way to draw those ideas out.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Coleen,
Very true that the group assignments are a great way to help those students who may be struggling to get another perspective on the content & often get a better feel.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Some positive outcomes that I have seen with the groups that I have created is that they can learn from one another. I find this especially useful if we have Spanish speaking students who may not be able to absorb everything I have said. Another Spanish speaking student will be able to help reitterate, after my lecture, to the ones who may not have understood everything I have said, yet are too uncomfortable saying anything. Yes, I get that they are not quite understanding, and I do speak to them individually as well. However, I have found that when they are told again what I have said in their own language, they really begin to understand more quickly. Another example is that one student may be more familiar with one part of a subject, and another may be more familiar with another part of the subject. When working together in groups they can help one another in the areas that they are most familiar.
It is creating a "Montessori" environment. People who are stronger in class can help people who are weaker and everyone benefits.
They can get ideas from other students and incorporate with theirs.
I teaches team work, and how to relate and work together as a team. It shows that we all have strengths and weakness, and that we can use them for the best interest of the group.
It will induce less active students in larger groups to contribute when put in a smaller sized group. Less intimidating to some students, to be placed in a smaller group.
Students that do not normally share in the class may feel comfortable in a smaller group.
Alexadner,
Yes and also it often helps those quieter students to speak out more & for the others to realize that they have good ideas to contribute.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Mark,
Which is more & more characteristic of most work environments today isn't it? Our students have to learn to work together.
Dr. Ryan Meers
having students in groups lessons the stress of being pointed out, they become confortable with a group and recieve guidance from them.
If you allow the students to choose their own groups, the groups tend to be off balance with the high performing students grouping together and the lower performing students being clumped together. Buy putting the students in logical groups it allwos the high achievers to push the lower achieving studetnts
