Small Groups
Do you utilize small group activities in your classrooms? If so, please share any challenges you have experienced and your ideas for effectively managing the groups.
I teach a Kinesiology class and it is necessary for me to have my students work in small groups. I use to find it difficult to organize my students depending on the class size, however I have found that it is easier to demonstrate to the entire group fisrt, and then move from group to group giving more detailed instruction.
With small group work students they could learn from each other with a little help form instructor.
I wish I could change the classroom seats around. It is such a big ordeal in the classrooms I use for teaching. I often walk around to keep students awake and on task. We also have a huge lecture hall with the seats mounted to the floor so rearranging the classroom doesn't work.
Technical schools seem to attract students that are more technically and less socially oriented.
I have found that when teaching in a group environment it works well if their perceptions and expectations are aligned with the goals of the class. Success in this field usually depends on a group of people working and communicating well together. Therefore the training should reflect this.
I have found this as well. But as a way around it, I make team positions and rotate everytime. One time you may be the recorder, another time the researcher. This helps so that everyone must have an active role in completely the project.
I have recently started this and it seems effective in keeping students actively involved.
I do utilize small groups, in most cases it enhances learning. There are times although that one team member will carry the load of responsibility because they want an (A) and the best way to do that is to control the group environment. This isn't always the case there are times that the other students in the group do not meet deadlines, or do not participate at all. In a difficult group situation I will have to take responsibility to assign specific responsibilities for each student, if they do not complete their specific group responsibilities, then only that indiviual graded is lowered an not the group score.
One of the biggest challenges is keeping the students engaged. The students can easily get into conversations that are irrevelant to the subject matter. How I know this? The volume level inside the classroom starts to increase. While the students are discussing the topics there is a quiet environment. As they finish up their discussions, you will find students drifting off to other conversations which you want to avoid.
Small groups are a necessity in the program I teach. Their lab tasks are performed on training aids that limit the size of the groups. I agree with the benefit of learning social skills by assigning students to groups with peers that they have not worked with before. But I have found that learning is severely handicapped when students do not get along. The tension, frustration and arguments limit performance and more importantly, learning. The additional stress contaminates the entire class and can create a hostile environment. I am aware of the downside of allowing students to choose their own group, but find that with close supervision, students are more likely to stay on task, performance is satisfactory and greater learning takes place when they work with their choice of teammates. Although social skills are valuable, in the industry I prepare students for, employers are more focused on technical skill sets rather than social.
That is very true. I almost never give my students the option to choose their own groups. I usually assign them through random drawing. I will also assign groups if I feel a random order will not accomplish the goals I wish to achieve in the classroom for that day/project.
In my classroom we recently completed this change as well. We use square tables and have them arranged into small groups of 3 to 4 students and have found that small group activities and meaningful group discussions have increased. We have also had an increase in students who understand the materials better helping students who are struggling with the materials at those same groups.
I am going to try this technique. Assigning roles sounds like an effective way to get everyone to participate. Too often there are those quiet students who don't get involved if they aren't encouraged. Even though I walk around among the groups, this is still a concern.
Yes, instructors choosing the students who will be in the groups makes a difference. When they choose, it's always the same group of friends. However, I find it challenging. They are adults, and they seem to choose the group regardless of my encouragement to work with people they haven't worked with in the past.
I break each class up into "families," usually consisting of two to three persons and then give at least two group assignments for each, sometimes a project and other times an opportunity to teach the class concerning a specific topic/era/art form. This way, it becomes very difficult for one or two to slack off without being noticed. This way, the students are more in control of their own learning in a cooperative atmosphere.
The classroom that I teach in is arranged with tables lined up in rows and each table accommodates up to 4 students.
Thus far, I am at a loss to use small group activities based on the subject matter.
Can all subjects accommodate occasional small group activities?
The subject matter is Pharmacology which is pretty cut & dried, you can not really have opinions about drug classifications, can you?
Does anyone have a suggestion as to what small group activity can be done for this subject; I welcome anyone to reply...please.
I use small group activites often in the classroom. Whenever I use graffit with the large post it notes and markers, there is always a team standing at one of the topics that has not read the material or listened to the lectures before class. As a result, their post-it does not have any information on it before having to switch to a different topic. This generally only has to happen once during the semester and they realize the importance of reviewing the information before class.
It is always a challenge to keep everyone actively involved when doing activites with teams sitting at the table. Although I walk around the classroom, someone is always texting, on facebook or a team has finished their topic sooner than others and are having personal conversations.
yES I JUST LOVE THE ACTION BETWEEN THE CLASS. IT IS GETTING TO KNOW EACH PERSONS STRENTH,FEARS, AND PERSPECTIVE ON THE FUTURE.iT IS THE DEVELOPEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND BEING ABLE TO CONTIBUTE TO THEIR FUTURE ON HOW THIS CLASS BENEFITS THEM. iT MAY BE THROUGH YOUR YEARS AND HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THEM IN THE FUTURE. yOU CAN GIVE AND RECIEVE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENT AND THE REST OF THE CLASS WHAT A GREAT LEARNING EXPIERANCE.
Jennifer,
I too had to experience a small classroom setting (3 students). It is very challenging to fill a day with less interaction (time fillers). I found hands on, and mandating classroom participation (board activities) was helpful. I would let them know the night before, so they could be prepared. This preventing some embarrassment due to lack of subject knowledge. Also, I created a jeopardy game thru powerpoint. The students really enjoyed it, and felt it was one of the best learning tools. They really engaged in the activity, and it lead to topic discussions as well. O.K. and I had a little prize at the end.
Yes, I do have small group activities. For the most part, everything goes very well; however, at times, students may communicate to each other in a more social setting un related to the school topic. Usually, a brief mention of it takes care of it.
