learning groups control
Learning groups for lab work,works well as long as the groups remain small. A maximum of three people per group works well in our industry. It is important to emphasis that each student must perform all required tasks. I find that quizzing each group member verbally while the learning teams are performing help to evaluate the effectiveness of the team performance. Team learning groups based on lecture or additional self study is more difficult because the atmosphere is more relaxed. Giving each team a question to answer based on the lecture seam to work because it gives the team a goal.
In my class sometimes working in two's is the best grouping. The tasks they are performing is hands-on lab and one is the patient the other the technologist, then they switch roles. This way they practice skills. My classes are small and I roam from group to group, correcting errors and answering questions. Sometimes during group activities, it brings up topics that I can expand on. It appears that in this more casual atmosphere, some students learn more easily than during lectures.
Fred,
this is a great strategy for finding a varied way to assess the learning of all of the students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
