Group Work
The key to group work achieving its maximum potential is setting clear expectations, timings and then intervening appropriately as the activity proceeds. Notice in the video clips how the teacher explains the task, timings and set the expectations for the activity.
School B, Year 10 - Group Work (01:48)
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Transcript (23 KB) School B, Year 9 - Group Work (01:18)
You can watch the video via 56k modem or slow (100kbps) / medium (256 kbps) / fast (400kbps) / very fast (800kbps) broadband connections, or as a Flash video for which you will need to have the flash plugin.
Activity
With a colleague, discuss the ways in which a teacher can ensure that the purpose and outcomes of group work are clear. Share examples of methods of ensuring pupils understand what is expected of them.
Ground rules
The ground rules for speaking and listening included in the posters will provide you with a positive model for emphasising with your pupils the ways to ensure group work is successful.
Rules for listening poster (24 KB)
Guided group teaching
Guided group teaching gives you the opportunity to work with specific groups and model how to move a discussion forward, how to ask questions, how to make points in a supportive way and how to reach a conclusion. For this modelling to be effective it is important to allow time for reflection with the group at the end of a discussion.
Group composition
How do you choose or decide which pupils are in which group?
Have a look at the attached Group composition sheet which indicates the range of ways in which you can put pupils to groups and the benefits and limitations of each.