Student learning groups
I have had alot of success with this approach. Students have bonded better with their classmates and the idea of the project being done by a group was in general less stessful. There have been a few times when certain group dynamics created tension. With working closer with this group I was able to keep them back on track and was another learning tool for myself.
Yvonne,
I would agree. This is a good example of how no one method is the solution for all of our content or teaching, but we have to evaluate based on what is going on. Lab is perfect for groups.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find it harder to get students into groups for theory. We have a very fast paced nursing course. But I do find it works great during lab.
I like using student groups. It really gets the students potential fully actualized.
I feel that if the groups are too big, then 1 or 2 students will do all the work and the rest will just stand and watch. Its important not to make the groups too large.
Felix,
the area of learning from other students really is an important one. Often students will be able to better explain a concept to a peer than we can.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
student groups may give them a sense of working as a team. everyone will have to contribute to the occasion.Eventually dissatisfaction will rise amongst students at the beginning cause of their personal opinions but it's up to the instructor to guide them. Also it allows students to know each other better
I think student learning groups are extremly important to allow students express themselves, learn from other students and feel like they are part of the learning process
When utilizing groups for in class projects, I have the class count off depending on the number of groups, I decided to have. That way students work or study with classmates that they normally would not work or study with.
There are pros and cons with student learning groups. I put my students in groups for some class assignments. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Overall, I like to do it because it can challenge those students that are normally laid back or shy.
I agree that student learning groups can be very useful. Sometimes the students' peers explain things in a different way, which helps them to understand it better because now they have heard the material presented from more than one perspective.
Bill ,
and even in these tensions, the students have the opportunity to learn how to work through them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
