Make Learning Fun And Easy By Finding Your Own Way

Collaboration In Learning

Small group work is formally referred to as collaborative learning and is defined as the didactic use of small groups to encourage students to work together to maximize their own learning and the learning of others (Johnson, et al., 2008). In addition, many teachers find that well-organized student work in small groups contributes to learning and effective classroom management.

Without careful planning and facilitation, teamwork can be frustrating for students and teachers and seem like a waste of time. Many discipline teachers at universities use teamwork to improve their students’ learning.

For students to get the most out of group learning, they must collaborate with the same group over a period of time to solve complex problems. Collaborative learning is based on social interaction; therefore, grouping students into groups for independent work, even for a short period of time, can stimulate behaviour outside of work. Group work also brings a lot of unpredictability to learning, as groups are able to solve problems in new and interesting ways.

Also, because students work in small groups, which requires extra time, teachers may be more likely to give assignments that do not require higher-level thinking skills.

The Advantages Of Small Group Teaching

Teachers can often set more complex and authentic challenges for groups of students than for individuals. Sorenson and Hallinan (1986) in a longitudinal study of 47 classrooms found an advantage of small group learning over whole class learning. But, they also found that this advantage was offset by the relatively small amount of learning achieved during self-study, contained work activities that students were forced to perform while their classmates studied in small groups.

Small group teaching has obvious great learning benefits, but when students work alone there is so little growth that the overall confrontation between the whole class and small group teaching becomes meaningless.

While the potential benefits of teamwork for learning are significant, simply assigning teamwork does not guarantee that these goals will be achieved. Roberson and Franchini (2014) emphasize that for group learning to be effective, students must clearly recognize that group work “serves the stated goals of learning and disciplinary thinking” of the course. Consider giving a relatively easy assignment at the beginning of the semester to pique student interest in group work and encourage their progress.

Working Together As A Team

Specify the desired behavior. An integral part of successful collaborative learning is teaching students how to work as a team. Group work can be an effective method of motivating students, encouraging active learning, and developing key critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills. Diverse groups provide a set of resources for better performance and help students develop social skills and be aware of diversity.

In informal co-education, small ad hoc, temporary groups of two to four students work together for short periods of time in the classroom, usually before the lecture period, to answer questions or respond to suggestions made by the instructor. Being forced to work in a group can irritate 9th grade students because they are now being asked to participate and contribute to their learning.

Making Learning Fun And Enjoyable Will Keep You Motivated

Reward yourself when you succeed. When learning, you should always have a purpose, a plan, and a goal. Make sure you have an effective and efficient method. It’s important to pace yourself, find a rhythm, and be flexible, so you don’t overdo it. Spaced repetition learning is a good memory boosting technique and a good way to keep track of your progress and memory.

In order To Learn Effectively, You Need To Be Engaged With Learning And Interested In What You’re Learning

Knowledge doesn’t just come to you. It’s not possible to pretend to understand something unless you enjoy lying to yourself. Goals are necessary for learning. Learning is in our DNA. However, our brains need deliberate control over the input of information because if you’re not aware of what you’re learning, or fully grasp what you’re learning, then knowledge becomes vague, and awareness becomes subconscious rather than conscious. 

Documentation is as important as memory, especially in light of the fact that human memory is prone to errors. It is possible for knowledge to be lost and knowledge to lose its value if it is never written down for future generations to benefit from, just as you benefited from the knowledge of previous generations. 

Documentation is an integral part of engaged learning. A method of learning that is not based on research, investigation, and documentation is not effective. Having read this, what have you learned?

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