OER4Schools/Review of group work: Difference between revisions

{{activity|Whole group Brainstorm}} It is inevitable that you would have discussed some of the issues about group work during Activity 1. Now, extend the previous discussion and brainstorm strategies that you can use for resolving the issues mentioned above. Suggest realistic and practical strategies that the facilitator can record on the flipchart or concept mapping software (see Unit 2, Session 4 for concept mapping).

= Review of group work =

This is the last session focussing specifically on group work. In it we review the key elements of the previous sessions, and then give time to an extended planning task.

Unit 3 on group work covered a number of topics, including [[OER4Schools/3.1 Group work: Same-task and different-tasks group work|same-task and different-tasks group work (3.1)]],

[[OER4Schools/3.2 Supporting reasoning and managing groupwork|supporting reasoning and managing groupwork (3.2)]],

[[OER4Schools/3.4 Group work with ICT|group work with ICT (3.4)]], and

[[OER4Schools/3.5 Talking points and effective group work|talking points and effective group work (3.5)]].

{{activity|Pair work}} Review the previous sessions in pairs (e.g. using your paper handouts or the online version), and make a note of any points that stand out to you, that you found helpful, or would like to raise in the following group discussion. To give an example, you might note down  '''types of group work''', and briefly note the three types (“same task groupwork”, carousel-style groupwork, “different tasks groupwork”) and reflect on how you have been able to make progress with your group work in class.

{{activity|Group discussion}} Share your reflections with the group, perhaps drawing a mindmap of what suggestions are made.

It's important to note down any points that arise, because these will be used in the planning task below.

= Further notes on group work =

There are many aspects to group work, and over time more things will occur to you, which you should share with your colleagues. For instance, you could think about managing group work outside the classroom, doing group work with additional available resources (e.g. books, newspapers, other technologies). Group work, like all the other interactive techniques we have talked about, will continue to be part of your arsenal of learning techniques, and it will be particularly important for project-based work.

Also, remember to use the ICTs you already know about in group work. For instance, think of innovative ways you can use EtherPad. You might consider trying out group work as follows:

* You do carousel-style group work, where you form groups of 2-4 students: some of those groups work with netbooks, others do another task. For 2-4 students per netbook, say with 12 netbooks, this forms 12 groups, and occupies 24 to 48 students; the other students then do a non-ICT task. We would encourage you to try this with small group, say 2 or 3 using a netbook.

* Then, among the 12 groups with netbooks, 3 groups share an etherpad, that they use for a joint task (i.e. there are 4 etherpads in use at the same time, each EtherPad has contributions from 3 groups only).

= Homework =

Drawing on the points that arose in the discussion above, plan a group work task, e.g. including different-task group work, talking points in conjunction with the downloaded images, magic microphone, etc. Make sure you include an ICT element, and draw on classroom assistants if possible.

'''Computer tasks:''' Remember to keep practising your typing skills! (The awarding of a certificate at the end of the course will also depend on your typing skills!). Also, take some time to explore the other applications installed on your computers, and reflect on how they could be used for interactive teaching and learning.