Managing Effective Group work! Ideas for the classroom

Objectives  To know what is meant by effective group work  To understand the benefits of group work for the learner  To discuss different group work strategies Outcomes  All will identify what effective group work is  Even better if you can explain why it is beneficial for the learner  Excellent when you have developed at least one strategy to use in the classroom

Why should we use group work as a teaching and learning strategy? What is the difference between working in groups and collaborative/ cooperative group work? Activity – in groups discuss/key points:

Why use group work? Because:  humans are social creatures who benefit from expressing/sharing/discussing their thoughts & ideas to others, who in turn learn more effectively when they have to process what they have heard [synthesising]  it enables students to make decisions with the help of others  it makes problem solving less daunting  some students listen more carefully to peers than to the teacher!  students are more willing to challenge their peers when they do not understand something  teaching someone else leads to semantic processing

Common features of collaborative group work  small teams/groups of at least 3 but usually 4 or 5  whole class is given structured tasks where everyone has a clear role & responsibility for the group’s learning  each student is involved in peer teaching specific aspects of a topic  it depends on mutual cooperation – each student relies on other members of the group  it is set out at the start that the task will culminate in an assessment exercise where everyone demonstrates their understanding of the topics learned

It encourages independence while fostering accountability and a sense of responsibility. It provides the opportunity for everyone to achieve, although not always at the same level or in the same way, making it truly differentiated and personalised learning. Benefits of collaborative group work

The Jigsaw technique Based on the idea that the larger group can only succeed when they have all the pieces [provided by individual students] of the jigsaw! Jigsaw in 10 Easy Steps:  Divide students into 4 or 5 person jigsaw groups.  Appoint one student from each group as the leader [optional].  Divide the topic into 4 or 5 sections.  Assign each student to learn one section ensure students have access only to their own section.  Give students time to read over their section at least twice and become familiar with it.  Form temporary "expert groups" by having one student from each jigsaw group join other students assigned to the same section. Give students in these expert groups time to discuss the main points of their section and to rehearse the presentations they will make to their jigsaw group.  Bring the students back into their jigsaw groups.  Ask each student to present her or his section to the group. Encourage others in the group to ask questions for clarification.  Float from group to group, observing the process. Leaders can be trained on how to intervene if someone is dominating or being disruptive.  At the end of the session, assess the material so that students quickly come to realise that these sessions are not just fun and games but really count.

Other effective group work techniques: Groups with an Ambassador [4]– all groups same topic Ambassador moves to each group – listens & offers points Ambassador back to original group – refined version with additional input Paper stays groups – move round and add information/amend points and evaluate points from previous groups - each group has a particular pen colour [identifiable & thus accountable!] Individual = 3 ideas  Pairs = six ideas to four ideas  Fours = 8 ideas to 5 ideas Promotes – thinking/listening/selecting/justifying/evaluating

Final thoughts/pointers: Working in small groups using cooperative learning strategies supports students to:  think aloud, take risks, and develop deeper understandings and higher order thinking  become more self confident as learners  develop oral language skills as student input into activities is valued  improve their relationships with other students and with their teachers  scaffold their learning through talk and the use of cognitive and graphic organisers

Time to plan - in your classroom Discuss ideas and consider when you could next try collabora tive group work in one of your lessons

Objectives  To know what is meant by effective group work  To understand the benefits of group work for the learner  To discuss different group work strategies Outcomes  All will identify what effective group work is  Even better if you can explain why it is beneficial for the learner  Excellent when you have developed at least one strategy to use in the classroom