Group Learning
I really liked this segment as group activities are some of the most beneficial for me as a student so I love incorporating them into my curriculum. It's really important to maintain balance in groups and make sure everyone is being heard.
Todd,
This is true yet teamwork & group projects are a way of life in many jobs so we do need to prepare them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
its great if they review the material together answer questions other students have, in this way their teaching so they know the material
I was just the opposite. I absolutely hated group projects. I would switch classes and professors if I could to avoid them. The reason I hated them is I like to be responsible for the work I do, I hate being judged by other peoples effort (or lack thereof).
I think it is impossible to grade fairly in a group setting unless you are a member of that group. As an instructor I do give group projects occasionally, but I always let the students grade each other. If I think they are way off (usually they are way too hard on themselves) I will adjust it, but I still think it is impossible to grade not having seen everything that happened.
Amanda,
yes, encouraging diversity of thought, background, skills, are all great ways to build groups & ensure a good outcome.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
in certain situations smaller groups seem to get more done especially, in the automotive side of teaching the smaller groups seemed more focused on the labs .
I think the module makes an excellent point of making sure groups are diverse. I know in some classes when I was in school we were allowed to choose our own groups and people would always group with who they knew, what was comfortable. There wasn't much diversity in that and I think often times we would have gotten much more out the project or activity had we been mixed up more.
Ryan,
This is true & also on what you're trying to accomplish . There are some projects that help the students to do in a group setting while others are better in an individual setting.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find that group learning is great for final reviews. As far as normal day to day exercises it really depends on the material of your lesson.
this was interesting. I found that putting students in groups of 2 works best.
Forming the students into groups will help the students learn many things in a short period of time. They do their part and in the end the group will make a report, and they are oblige to read the whole paper.
