I have mixed feelings about group work. In general, I don’t like it myself, as I would much rather hear a solid lecture from someone who knows what they are talking about. Group work seems rather inefficient. I did use it some in my classes, especially for solving PACED decision model problems and also for small group practice teaching activities. I guess it has its place.
Here's my understanding: lecture is good for when novices need to learn a process that has logical steps. It's also good for communicating a lot of information. But if they don't understand something they can get lost, and a lecture doesn't give opportunity to redirect them.
As you know, students need opportunities to practice. When they practice in groups, they can benefit from the perspective of their group mates, and the opportunity to explain things and to get things explained to them.
Individual practice is good for when they have a more intermediate skill, and they have the mental tools they need to practice by themselves.
Ultimately, I think it's all about whether students are in a position to stretch themselves to learn something new. If it's too far away they never get off the ground, and if it's too close then it's too easy.
Good students really don't like group work! I remind them that "working in teams" is a skill that employers value!
Smart, reminds the high achievers that there is marketable value in the group work.
This is fantastic, Stephen! Great points to inform future work and projects.
Appreciate that.
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Daysteph
I have mixed feelings about group work. In general, I don’t like it myself, as I would much rather hear a solid lecture from someone who knows what they are talking about. Group work seems rather inefficient. I did use it some in my classes, especially for solving PACED decision model problems and also for small group practice teaching activities. I guess it has its place.
Here's my understanding: lecture is good for when novices need to learn a process that has logical steps. It's also good for communicating a lot of information. But if they don't understand something they can get lost, and a lecture doesn't give opportunity to redirect them.
As you know, students need opportunities to practice. When they practice in groups, they can benefit from the perspective of their group mates, and the opportunity to explain things and to get things explained to them.
Individual practice is good for when they have a more intermediate skill, and they have the mental tools they need to practice by themselves.
Ultimately, I think it's all about whether students are in a position to stretch themselves to learn something new. If it's too far away they never get off the ground, and if it's too close then it's too easy.
Thanks for this post. I am giving a talk on the future of work and some of these citations are great add-ons to my work. I appreciate you Stephen Day!
I always love reading your stuff, Abdullah! It's informative and practical. Let me know how the talk goes.