Additional Models | Group Work

Groups offer opportunities for collaborative

and critical thinking. (www.bigstockphoto.com)

This blog post continues an examination of various models for implementing and forming student group work activities (see previous post.) The Group Investigation model (GI) by Sharan and Sharan (1980) is based on cooperative inquiry and classroom collaboration. Students choose their own groups, select a sub-topic from the unit of classroom study, divide this sub-topic into individual assignments, and then present a group report to the entire class. Emphasis is placed on the interdependence of the larger classroom audience to these discrete investigation groups, and evaluation occurs at many levels. The team presentations are evaluated by the class and the instructor, while each individual's contributions to their group's performance are evaluated by both the instructor and the other group members.

Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a group work method where students are placed into small learning teams of 5-7 members that will work together throughout the course. The TBL model emphasizes that students are responsible for their own learning as well as working together as a team. Group members are expected to learn certain course materials on their own in preparation for working with their assigned team. To ensure individual accountability, each student first takes an initial Readiness Assessment Test (RAT) on their own. Next, they take a Group Readiness Assurance Test (GRAT) as a team, where they share ideas and arrive at a group consensus for their answers. Once the team members have demonstrated an understanding of the preparatory content, they work together to solve an assigned problem, by applying the content they have learned, and producing a group report that is shared with the rest of the class. Additional resources about the TBL process can be found at the Team-Based Learning Collaborative website.

We'd love to hear of your experiences with either of these models. Comment below!