Task 1
a) Compare and contrast the characteristics that group environments which foster learning and development have in common.
Whether it’s a large group, small group, seminar, self-help group, student-led group, or workshop, group environments that foster learning and development often have several characteristics in common. These may range from the physical environment to the group dynamics and activities to the attitudes and expectations of the members. Group environments that foster learning and development are typically supportive, engaging, and collaborative (Wilson, Goodman, & Cronin, 2007).
One of the main characteristics of groups that foster learning and development is the feeling of safety and acceptance (Harrison, 2005). Group members should feel comfortable and secure in the environment and feel that their contributions are valued. This allows for open and honest dialogue and encourages members to take risks and learn from their mistakes. They also create a sense of community and connectedness among the members. This is done through activities such as team building, shared goal setting, and a sense of cohesiveness (Cranton, 1996). Additionally, the environment encourages open dialogue and encourages the members to express their ideas and opinions. This allows members to learn from one another and develop their own understanding of the topic (O’Donnell, 2006).
Group environments also promote collaboration, where members work together to come to solutions and also support one another in their learning (Gillies, 2004). This helps to create an environment that is engaging and encourages learning and development. Additionally, members can learn from each other’s mistakes and successes, allowing for more effective and efficient learning.
However, group environments can also be challenging, as members may have different perspectives, skills, and goals (Harrison, 2005). This can lead to conflict, which can be beneficial if managed well, as it can lead to the development of better communication and problem-solving skills.
In summary, group environments that foster learning and development typically have a supportive, engaging, and collaborative atmosphere and encourage open dialogue, collaboration, and a sense of community. Additionally, they can be challenging, allowing members to develop their communication and problem-solving skills.
b) Evaluate the main advantages and disadvantages of using small groups for fostering learning and development.
Small groups are an excellent way to foster learning and development. One of the main advantages is that small groups provide a more flexible learning environment, allowing for greater creativity in problem-solving and increased opportunities for students to interact with one another (Harrison, 2005). Smaller groups also create an atmosphere of collaboration where students can share ideas and help each other learn effectively. Additionally, working in smaller teams may encourage learners to take the initiative on tasks without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by complex assignments given out during larger classes or lectures, which helps build student confidence and leads to better outcomes (O’Donnell, 2006).
In terms of group work specifically, small group dynamics allow participants multiple avenues through which they can contribute their knowledge while simultaneously honing existing skills such as teamwork abilities, communication styles, and organisational methods, as well as developing critical thinking processes throughout the course of debate-related activities within the setting (Harrison, 2005). All of these come with further educational value.
Also, teachers are able to provide more direct and detailed feedback to each student in the group, thus maximising their potential for learning and development. Furthermore, when students are part of a smaller group, it is easier to monitor progress over time as they become more comfortable with each other.
The main disadvantage of using small groups, however, may be that learners can get easily side-tracked by social interaction if there is not enough structure put in place by the facilitator, which could result in decreased productivity within the sessions and run contrary to its intended educational outcomes ultimately (Gillies, 2004). Additionally, working collaboratively also means grappling with various personalities, which can lead to conflicts arising among members where one person’s opinion dominates despite possible objections from others, which risks adversely impacting any positive outcome associated with collaboration overall, such as shared understanding or new knowledge acquired through discussion (Wilson, Goodman, & Cronin, 2007). Another disadvantage is that small groups can be affected by the dynamics of the group members. If one or more members are not fully engaged or are causing disruptions, it can negatively impact the overall effectiveness of the group, especially if the facilitator is not able to manage the dynamics effectively. Additionally, small groups may not be suitable for certain types of learners or specific subjects, as some people may prefer to learn independently or in a larger group setting.
c) Justify how you would select groupings within the learning environment to support learning and development. Give reasons for the methods used and describe how your methods would influence the learning opportunities for the groups.
I believe it is important to consider the learning environment when grouping students together. Grouping students has been shown to improve engagement and motivation while providing more targeted teaching approaches that can help enhance their understanding of the material (Webb, 1982). Therefore, I would select groups within the classroom with an emphasis on maximising collaboration between all individuals involved.
When selecting groupings for my classes, I prefer using methods such as ability-based grouping or mixed-ability grouping, depending on what content needs are most relevant at any given time. Ability-based groups provide support by allowing me to differentiate instruction accordingly, considering each student’s unique learning style preferences and academic capabilities better than if they were working alone. On the other hand, mixed-ability groupings can promote positive interdependence among learners, creating space for problem-solving activities where each person brings something different but complimentary skill sets needed to solve problems. This allows for higher-level thinking skills, as well as interpersonal and collaboration experiences (Jaques, 2000).
By selecting groupings that promote cooperation and understanding between students, I create learning opportunities that encourage socialisation in addition to the acquisition of knowledge. Additionally, by leveraging both ability-based and mixed-ability grouping methods, my classes can ensure that all individuals are respected equally while still providing differentiated instruction when necessary to those who need it most. In doing so, I am able to foster a positive environment where each person is given the opportunity to learn something new from one another, which ultimately enhances their own understanding of the material being taught, and encourages them to be more involved with what’s going on within the classroom setting overall.
Task 2
a) Critically evaluate strategies you would expect to be effective in managing group behaviour and dynamics. In particular, focus on strategies with emphasis on learner motivation and involvement.
One effective strategy to manage group behaviour is to ensure that there is a clear set of group goals and expectations. When each group member knows what is expected of them, they can better contribute to the group and become more motivated and involved (Harrison, 2005). Additionally, it is important to create a sense of trust and respect between the group members. This can be done by encouraging open communication, dialogue and active listening.
Another effective strategy to motivate and involve group members is to allow for autonomy and choice. Letting group members have a say in decisions can give them a sense of ownership and responsibility (Hertz-Lazarowitz, 1995). Additionally, it can be helpful to provide recognition and appreciation for group members who have gone above and beyond. This can further motivate and encourage them to contribute to the group. Also, it is important to ensure that group members feel supported and heard. This can be done by providing feedback and constructive criticism in a supportive manner. Additionally, it can be helpful to create a safe and inclusive space for group members to share their ideas and opinions. This can foster creativity and collaboration.
Herzberg’s Two Factor theory (1968) can also be used to facilitate motivation and involvement among group members. This theory suggests that providing meaningful work, recognition and opportunities for growth can help to increase motivation and involvement.
b) Justify your own approach and attitude towards managing group behaviour.
As a teacher, it is essential that I manage group behaviour in order to ensure successful student learning. My approach towards managing group behaviour involves creating an environment of respect and trust by setting clear expectations for students and providing feedback in a supportive manner. Additionally, my attitude towards managing group behaviour emphasises autonomy and choice as well as an appreciation for the effort shown by individual students or the entire class.
In order to create an atmosphere of respect, I ensure that each student’s opinion is valued while also ensuring they understand what is expected from them during discussions or activities within the classroom setting. When providing feedback on their work, I try to be encouraging but honest, so they can learn from their mistakes without feeling discouraged.
Furthermore, when assigning tasks, rather than dictating how certain things should be done, I give my students some level of freedom which allows them to take ownership of the project at hand, making it more meaningful for them. Recognising the hard work put forth by both individuals or the class as a whole is also an important part of my approach and attitude towards managing group behaviour. I ensure that students are rewarded for their efforts, be it through verbal praise or tangible rewards such as certificates or treats.
My approach to managing group behaviour focuses on creating an environment where everyone feels respected and appreciated while still maintaining the necessary structure in order to keep discussions productive. By taking this approach, I can foster student motivation and involvement within the classroom setting, which leads to successful learning outcomes.
c) From your own experience, what are the potential barriers to learning in groups? List a range of common barriers and describe strategies that you have used to overcome them.
Different learning styles: Group members often have different learning styles that need to be taken into consideration if they are going to collaborate successfully together on projects or activities. One person may learn best through visuals, while another might prefer hands-on approaches or auditory instruction, etc. To combat this, I have found it helpful to give group members freedom over how they approach the task by allowing them some creativity within limits, letting team members discuss their preferred methods for tackling tasks, and providing adequate resources so that all students can access content in whatever way suits them best, etc.
Group size and selection: If a group is too large, it may not be easy to manage and foster meaningful collaboration. On the other hand, having an overly small team may limit ideas and perspectives from different individuals. To avoid this issue, I try to form balanced groups in terms of size that have diverse strengths, ensure tasks are evenly divided among members, create teams with compatible personalities or skill sets when possible, and rotate roles and responsibilities within each project as needed throughout the learning process etc.
Lack of motivation/participation: This is particularly common when learners feel disengaged from the subject matter, have poor levels of confidence, or don’t feel valued. To address this, I encourage students to share their ideas and feedback with peers, keep learning activities relevant and engaging, use positive reinforcement (praise/rewards) when appropriate, and discuss any negative behaviour quickly but calmly amongst group members, etc.
Lack of collaboration: Group members may have difficulty collaborating when they lack experience working in a team or don’t trust their peers enough to engage with them fully. To address this, I provide opportunities for students to practice skills such as communication and collaboration through activities like debates and projects, teach problem-solving strategies that foster collaboration between all participants, and role model cooperation myself by discussing decisions made together, etc.
Power dynamics: In some cases, certain individuals may take on a leadership role without taking into consideration the input of other group members. To prevent this, I emphasise individual accountability by assigning tasks to all team members and providing clear expectations regarding their roles in the project, assigning projects so that each person’s strengths are utilised appropriately, promoting fairness within teams with regular check-ins throughout the task timeline, and using techniques like peer reviews to encourage feedback between learners.
d) For one of these barriers, describe a group activity that would use to overcome the issue.
One group activity that I would use to overcome the barrier of lack of adequate collaboration is the Jigsaw method. This activity involves dividing the group into smaller sub-teams and assigning each sub-team a specific task or piece of information related to the overall project. Each sub-team would then be responsible for researching, learning, and presenting their task to the entire group. Once all sub-teams have presented their information, the entire group must come together and use all the information presented to complete the overall project as a team. This activity encourages collaboration by forcing group members to rely on each other’s knowledge and expertise to complete the project. It also promotes active listening and communication skills, as group members must listen to and understand their peers’ information to complete the project. Additionally, it allows for a diverse range of perspectives and ideas to be shared in the discussion, which helps to build trust among team members.
Task 3
a) Describe and reflect on a learning session in which you selected groups for a specific learning session.
This reflective account will look at the learning session I recently conducted with my students in which they had to devise an effective campaign on healthy lifestyles. Here, I shall reflect upon the group dynamics that arose during this activity, assessing how well these teams worked together and evaluating its overall effectiveness as a teaching method.
Concrete Experience
I recently conducted a learning session with my students in which I selected groups for a specific activity. The task was to devise an effective campaign on healthy lifestyles, focusing particularly on young people aged 16-25 years old. My aim was that the class would develop their understanding of the different ways they can use campaigns as tools to promote healthier lifestyle choices amongst this age group. This activity would also help to develop their understanding of working in teams.
b) Assess how the groups collaborated and outline the observations that you made of their group dynamics.
Observation
I watched the class closely as they worked together, noting how well each group interacted with one another and identifying the problems that arose during the session. I observed that there was some difficulty amongst a few groups when it came to deciding who should take on which roles within their team or even coming up with ideas for tasks. There seemed to be quite a bit of resistance from certain members, which caused tensions between them; however, overall, most groups were very collaborative in nature and actively discussed all aspects of what needed to be done, demonstrating good problem-solving skills throughout this process.
c) How effective were they in meeting the task objective? Did the overall outcome of the activity indicate that group work as an appropriate method to adopt?
Abstract Conceptualization
Upon further reflection, I can identify why these issues may have occurred; some students had not been taught adequately about teamwork dynamics, so they felt uncomfortable taking control over others or delegating roles effectively among themselves – something essential for an effective campaign task such as this one. As part of my assessment procedure, I asked each group to explain how they worked together and what strategies they used when it came to developing their campaign. The overall outcome of the activity indicated that group work was an appropriate method, as all groups were able to come up with some viable ideas. However, there is still a need for more focus on effective teamwork skills within my teaching sessions going forward.
d) Critically evaluate the activity used and suggest any improvements that you might make if the activity were to be repeated.
Active Experimentation
In terms of improvements, if this same activity were repeated in the future, one suggestion could be incorporating a session before undertaking such activities which focuses specifically on team dynamics and communication – this will provide students with essential skills needed when working collaboratively, making them feel more comfortable within these types of settings and allowing them greater confidence while performing tasks like these. Furthermore, by discussing concepts related to successful teamwork (such as negotiation techniques or how decisions can be made effectively) during our tutorial classes, students would also become better informed about scenarios like these so that should any issues arise then, hopefully, everyone involved would know precisely how best manage or solve them.
In addition, I would provide the groups with a clearer definition of what was expected from them and how they should go about achieving their task, as well as more frequent monitoring of each group’s progress in order to help keep things on track. This will not only motivate students to take greater ownership over their projects but also give me further insight into any issues that may be arising within these teams, allowing us all to work together towards resolving problems quickly and efficiently so that no time is wasted while working through this activity.
This learning session has shown me the importance of providing effective teaching around teamwork regarding health & social care-based activities such as devising campaigns – something I shall continue doing going forward in my classroom practice.
Reference
- Wilson, Jeanne M., Paul S. Goodman, and Matthew A. Cronin. “Group learning.” Academy of management review 32.4 (2007): 1041-1059.
- Harrison, R. (2005). Learning and development. CIPD publishing.
- Cranton, P. (1996). Types of group learning. New directions for adult and continuing education, 1996(71), 25-32.
- O’Donnell, A. M. (2006). The Role of Peers and Group Learning.
- Gillies, R. M. (2004). The effects of cooperative learning on junior high school students during small group learning. Learning and instruction, 14(2), 197-213.
- Springer, L., Stanne, M. E., & Donovan, S. S. (1999). Effects of small-group learning on undergraduates in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology: A meta-analysis. Review of educational research, 69(1), 21-51.
- Hertz-Lazarowitz, R. (1995). Interaction in cooperative groups: The theoretical anatomy of group learning. N. Miller (Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Jaques, D. (2000). Learning in groups: A handbook for improving group work. Psychology Press.
- Webb, N. M. (1982). Student interaction and learning in small groups. Review of Educational research, 52(3), 421-445.
- Michaelsen, L. K., Knight, A. B., & Fink, L. D. (2004). Team-based learning: A transformative use of small groups in college teaching.
