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 techniqueBased on the idea that the larger group can only

succeed when they have all the pieces [provided by individual students] of the jigsaw!

www.jigsaw.org

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 topicAmbassador moves to each group – listens & offers pointsAmbassador 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 ideasPromotes – 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 collaborative

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