As outlined above, there are so many ‘pros’ to this method of classroom configuration that these easily outweigh this somewhat questionable ‘con’. ( 2009) Sometimes they talk about themselves the way she thinks about them - you feel that these people lack coherence. In conclusion then, while it may sometimes be true that the weak students may ‘take it easy’ sometimes in groups, allowing others to work hard to compensate for their laziness, if the lesson materials are interesting and the teacher motivating, this is a rare occurrence. ( 2004) I think our challenge for the year ahead will be to bring some coherence to this. In business today, the ability to lead effectively and to support one’s peers is prized almost above all other skills. A word which has the same, or nearly the same, meaning as another word e.g. The same skills are being tested and developed – interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, to mention just two. Group working in class represents basically the same concept. In a great variety of careers today, the employees are asked to, and are judged on their ability to work in teams. The teacher as the source of all wisdom standing at the front of the class, the ‘jug and mug’ model of education, is not only antiquated, but also ineffective.Ī further benefit of group-teaching is the preparation it provides for working in teams. Certainly, some classroom activities, like project work for example, are best conducted in small groups. coherence across all areas of external action. Furthermore, most pedagogic approaches today concur that a lesson that is focused on the teacher at all times, is one from which the students are unlikely to benefit. Equality is a synonym of diversity and thus also a synonym of wealth. Also, with regard to the stronger students, a perfect way to consolidate their learning is to transmit that knowledge to others. I once saw a refrigerator magnet, you know the kind that you use to put the pictures of the kids on the fridge it said I finally got it all together but now I don’t know where I put it. Weaker students are often less afraid of making mistakes and taking risks in front of their peers, than in close contact with their teacher or in front of the whole class. Many students (especially in large classes) can benefit from this approach. Moreover, in life today, team-working is a feature of every workplace and one of the roles of university education is to provide a preparation for students’ future careers.įirstly, peer teaching can contribute to effective learning in most classroom situations. In addition, lessons organised in this way become less teacher-centred. In groups there is the opportunity for peer teaching, which can often be invaluable. The idea that working in groups is a bad thing is fundamentally mistaken because, overall, the advantages of this way of configuring the class outweigh the potential disadvantages. “Working in groups is a bad idea because it encourages weak students to let the others do the work.” Discuss
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