Jennifer Post wrote,in part,:
>
> I have found that small group work is only appropriate and effective in > certain
>contexts. In other words, I have to ask myself, "Would my > objective be best
>attained by small group work?"
One of the objectives of our new general education plan is
to help students learn how to work collaboratively in teams.
Here the objective is small group work and we're looking for
the right context to teach it. It seems to be the complement
of your question. This competency is, in part, suggested by
surveys by our College of Management that suggest employers
are looking for employees who are skilled in working in
groups.
> I have found that my students first need much guidance
> in HOW to engage in small group work. Many of them lack the skills to > work
>collaboratively, engage in group strategizing and decision-maiking, > etc.
>
Given that my problem turns this around, what are strategies
for teaching students to work collaboratively, i.e., more
than simply practice with group problems? Assuming that
skills for working in groups are teachable/learnable, what
sort of context is appropriate for such learning? What sorts
of behavior are monitored to guage success? How does one
assess skills of collaboration?
-dennis
--
dennis l. byrnes
Psychology Department
University of Massachusetts at Boston
Boston, MA 02125-3393
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Office: (617)287-6380
FAX: (617)287-6336
