Small group and Small group and discussion discussion techniquestechniques

NFTEP/GSTEP Nov. 12NFTEP/GSTEP Nov. 12

Overview of the sessionOverview of the session

• Pros/cons of small group/discussion Pros/cons of small group/discussion formatsformats

• Preventing/managing discussion problemsPreventing/managing discussion problems• Grading discussionGrading discussion• Pros/cons of group projectsPros/cons of group projects• Preventing problems and grading group Preventing problems and grading group

projectsprojects• Recap of some discussion techniques used Recap of some discussion techniques used

in the sessionin the session

Pros/cons of discussionPros/cons of discussion

• Please take out a piece of paper, and Please take out a piece of paper, and divide into two columns. This writing will divide into two columns. This writing will be shared. be shared.

• In one column, list pros for discussion In one column, list pros for discussion techniques. Why should we use them, techniques. Why should we use them, what learning goals are they good for? what learning goals are they good for?

• In the other, list cons of discussion In the other, list cons of discussion techniques. What problems arise in their techniques. What problems arise in their use, what learning goals are they not use, what learning goals are they not well-suited for? well-suited for?

• Now please compare your pro/con Now please compare your pro/con lists with someone near you. Try to lists with someone near you. Try to construct a non-redundant list construct a non-redundant list containing ideas from both of you. containing ideas from both of you.

• Now each pair of you please get Now each pair of you please get together with another pair, and try together with another pair, and try to compose a non-redundant list of to compose a non-redundant list of pros/cons from the four of you. pros/cons from the four of you.

Pros of discussion/small Pros of discussion/small group techniquesgroup techniques

• Intellectual ownership of ideasIntellectual ownership of ideas• Shows class preparednessShows class preparedness• Better engagement, more activeBetter engagement, more active• Peer learning Peer learning

Cons of discussion/small Cons of discussion/small group techniquesgroup techniques

• Students may share inaccurate infoStudents may share inaccurate info• Hard to grade– what did they learn Hard to grade– what did they learn

from this?from this?• Students may not be preparedStudents may not be prepared• Naturally quiet students don’t Naturally quiet students don’t

participate– but others may participate– but others may dominatedominate

• Side conversationsSide conversations

Some common problems Some common problems with discussionswith discussions

1.1. Students unpreparedStudents unprepared2.2. Some students dominate the conversation; Some students dominate the conversation;

Some students don’t talkSome students don’t talk3.3. Discussions of controversial topics get out Discussions of controversial topics get out

of hand, become emotional/rudeof hand, become emotional/rude4.4. Students may share inaccurate infoStudents may share inaccurate info5.5. Hard to grade– what did they learn from Hard to grade– what did they learn from

this?this?6.6. Naturally quiet students don’t participate– Naturally quiet students don’t participate–

but others may dominatebut others may dominate7.7. Side conversationsSide conversations

Preventing/managing Preventing/managing discussion problemsdiscussion problems

• Please count off by (how many Please count off by (how many problems did we list?)problems did we list?)

• Please form small groups and discuss Please form small groups and discuss method you have seen teachers use for method you have seen teachers use for preventing/managing the discussion preventing/managing the discussion problem that matches your number. problem that matches your number.

• Be prepared to share techniques, and Be prepared to share techniques, and your evaluations of these, with the rest your evaluations of these, with the rest of the class. of the class.

Strategies for dealing Strategies for dealing with…with…

SHOULD we grade SHOULD we grade discussion? discussion?

• YESYES• Reward effortReward effort• Encourages Encourages

participationparticipation• Validates the oral Validates the oral

mode and students as mode and students as knowersknowers

• Encourages Encourages attendanceattendance

• Allow dif methods of Allow dif methods of getting pointsgetting points

• NONO• Hard to doHard to do• Individual diffs in Individual diffs in

particip styleparticip style• Language barriersLanguage barriers

IF you choose to grade IF you choose to grade discussion… discussion…

• Count off by 4s. Count off by 4s. • Each of you please pick up a Each of you please pick up a

handout with your number on it. handout with your number on it. Study the grading technique, so that Study the grading technique, so that you can teach it to your group.you can teach it to your group.

• Form groups that contain a 1, a 2, a Form groups that contain a 1, a 2, a 3, and a 4. 3, and a 4.

• Each of you teach your group about Each of you teach your group about your grading technique. your grading technique.

• The group should try to come to a The group should try to come to a consensus about which technique consensus about which technique they think is best, and be prepared to they think is best, and be prepared to share their conclusion with the whole share their conclusion with the whole class. class.

Pros and cons of group Pros and cons of group projectsprojects

• Please take out a piece of paper. Free-Please take out a piece of paper. Free-write for a few minutes about pros write for a few minutes about pros and/or cons of group projects. Why do and/or cons of group projects. Why do teachers assign group projects? Why teachers assign group projects? Why do students hate them? What do do students hate them? What do teachers hate about group projects? teachers hate about group projects? What do students like about them?What do students like about them?

• These will be shared, but anonymously. These will be shared, but anonymously.

Pros of group projectsPros of group projects

Cons of group projectsCons of group projects

Some common problems Some common problems with group projectswith group projects

• How should we compose the groups? How should we compose the groups? • Students “divide and conquer” Students “divide and conquer”

rather than really collaboratingrather than really collaborating• One student gets stuck doing all the One student gets stuck doing all the

work, and the others take the creditwork, and the others take the credit

• What methods have you seen What methods have you seen teachers use to prevent/manage teachers use to prevent/manage these problems?these problems?

• What do you see as advantages What do you see as advantages and disadvantages of these and disadvantages of these methods? methods?

Please spend a couple of minutes Please spend a couple of minutes free-writing about methods of free-writing about methods of handling problems with group handling problems with group projects. What conclusions do YOU projects. What conclusions do YOU draw from this discussion? draw from this discussion?

Recap of discussion Recap of discussion techniques used in the techniques used in the

sessionsession• Think/pair/share/snowball reportingThink/pair/share/snowball reporting• Small groups on DIFFERENT questions, Small groups on DIFFERENT questions,

report back to class. report back to class. • Whole class brainstormingWhole class brainstorming• Individuals are jigsaw parts of the group Individuals are jigsaw parts of the group

puzzle. Note: when small groups worked on puzzle. Note: when small groups worked on different questions, the whole class was a different questions, the whole class was a “jigsaw.”“jigsaw.”

• Silent discussion, “low tech chatroom” Silent discussion, “low tech chatroom” • Whole class open-ended discussion, followed Whole class open-ended discussion, followed

by individual reflection/summary. by individual reflection/summary.