Small Groups

What are the reasons for breaking the class up into small groups? Why are the groups set up for approximately equal academic abilities in its members (balanced groups)?

• The teaching goal for the members of small groups should be:
  • Learning to work in groups.
  • Learning personal responsibility for outcome.
  • Master the material being covered.
  • Stretch students to reach their maximum potential.
• These goals are not valid:
  • To inflate the scores of underachieving students.
  • To protect the egos of underachieving students.

   

• Slower students are likely to not try to stretch their minds.
• Slower students would tend to take a free ride on the faster students.
• Faster students will be held back because others of equal ability do not stretch them
• It is more likely that every group will need attention from the teacher.

In a Class of Mostly Balanced Groups

• Fast Groups
  • Through their synergy, each will be stretched towards their maximum potential.
  • Those groups will need little or no assistance during their projects.
• Slower Groups
  • There will be greater force to work together, and take responsibility for the end result.
  • The students will be moving towards their maximum potentials.
  • These groups are more likely to need the teacher's help, thus the teacher's efforts will be more effective because several students will benefit from the same help. The teacher should monitor these groups during the group process, and act as a catalyst, facilitator, or direct teacher.
  • More students who need help will be helped in less time.

Assuming that slower students will learn the material or learn the group cooperative process simply by being in a group along with more advanced students is the equivalent of teaching by example or by osmosis. This author has discussed the weakness of this approach. See "A Good Example is the Best Teacher - NOT".

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Prior to using small groups, the teacher should teach a short lesson about working in groups.

See lesson plan ph-g3-4.htm.

Written by Russ Andrews, 13 Mar '03

Update: 16 Jul '03