Group Learning Strategies

15.06.09

Group Work is an effective way to harness and value a wide range of:

• abilities and talents
• points of view and attitudes to issues
• gaining input from students who may not contribute to whole class activities

It enables students to:

• experience 'peer' learning; very powerful and feel valued for their views and ideas
• develop listening and communication skills

The keys to a well functioning group are a valuing and acceptance of individual differences; everyone has something worthwhile to give.

• tolerance, appreciation and respect of others
• raising an awareness in students that they have two ears and one mouth and as such should listen twice as much as they talk
• a commitment of all members to contribute; it is not an option not to

The more angles a situation or issue is viewed from, the more clearly it is understood and the better it can be addressed with more solutions possible.

The first step in group work is to establish with the class a clear set of agreed expectations to operate by. For the group as a whole and for each member of the group. It is beneficial to reach these agreements through class discussion to promote ownership.

Next is to class brainstorm what tools, strategies and techniques are available and appropriate to use:

• Issues Matrix
• KWHL Grid
• SWOT Analysis
• Six Thinking Hats
• PMI
• Y-diagram
• Importance versus Urgency
• Think, Pair, Share
• Glad, Mad, Sad

Then it is essential for the class to understand the various ways the group’s findings can be presented:

- tapping into multiple and emotional intelligences and habits of the mind

- visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles

- challenge each group to be creative; anything goes

There will be students in the class whose behaviour will cause them to:

• be disruptive to the group
• try to dominate
• not contribute

There are several schools of thought in achieving the most desirable behavioural mix:

• firstly, place all of the students who may have a negative impact on group work in one or two groups; thus reducing supervision across 5 or 6 groups
• secondly, sprinkle them across the 5 or 6 groups being strategic; some students will settle others 
• thirdly, students unable to contribute positively to group work, have individual tasks to complete
• be creative in assisting students to arrange groups

'TEAM' – Together Everyone Achieves More - Anon