The Good, The Bad, and The Collaborative - EPI's Launch Your Classroom!

Educational Partners International

18 Jun 201906:19

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the challenges and importance of collaborative grouping in education. It emphasizes that collaboration is a top skill sought by employers, yet schools often face criticism for not preparing students to work well in teams. The script suggests strategies to improve group work, such as setting clear expectations, defining roles, and providing a model of effective group dynamics. Teachers share experiences of both successful and problematic group activities, highlighting the need to address individual concerns and personality types to foster a collaborative environment. The goal is to incrementally engage students in group work, even if they are initially resistant, to develop their teamwork skills.

Takeaways

📚 Collaborative grouping is essential for developing skills that employers value, such as the ability to work together in a team.
🏫 Schools are often criticized for producing students who lack the ability to collaborate effectively in the workplace.
👩‍🏫 Teachers are encouraged to create student-led classrooms, which often involve working in collaborative groups.
🤔 Teachers face a challenge in balancing the desire for students to learn collaboration skills with the practical difficulties of managing group work.
👥 It's important to discuss with students what each group will be doing and the roles and responsibilities of each group member.
📈 Having a clear model of what a successful group should look like can greatly enhance the effectiveness of collaborative activities.
🚫 Some students may resist group work for various reasons, including being introverted or feeling that they won't be able to contribute effectively.
🔍 Teachers need to identify and address the specific issues that prevent students from engaging in group work, such as a lack of interest or feeling overwhelmed.
💡 Strategies such as allowing perfectionists to observe before contributing can help bridge the gap and encourage participation.
👂 Listening to students' concerns and adapting the approach to group work can lead to more successful collaborative experiences.
👶 Education often involves taking students step by step, allowing them to gradually become more comfortable and effective in group settings.

Q & A

What is the main challenge discussed in the script regarding teaching?
-The main challenge discussed is the difficulty of implementing collaborative grouping in classrooms, which is a crucial skill for students to learn for future success in the workplace.
Why is collaborative grouping considered important by employers?
-Collaborative grouping is considered important because it fosters the ability to work together, a skill that employers frequently seek in their employees.
What criticism do schools often face regarding their graduates' skills?
-Schools are often criticized for producing students who do not know how to work together effectively, which can be a hindrance when they enter the workplace.
What is one of the teacher's dilemmas when it comes to collaborative groups?
-One dilemma is balancing the desire for students to learn collaborative skills with the chaos and perceived lack of productivity that can occur in group settings.
What is the purpose of the conversation between teachers about their experiences with group activities?
-The purpose is to share stories of successful and unsuccessful group activities to learn from each other's experiences and improve the chances of having successful collaborative activities in the future.
What did Christina do to ensure the success of her group activity about North Carolina history?
-Christina set clear expectations, defined roles for each group member, and provided a model of what a well-functioning group should look like.
What was the issue with the science project group in the fifth-grade class?
-One child was not participating and was sitting back with arms crossed, which led to other students becoming rowdy and questioning the fairness of the project.
Why do some students, particularly perfectionists, struggle with group work?
-Perfectionists may struggle because they feel the group's work does not meet their personal standards of excellence, or they worry about doing all the work and others receiving equal credit.
What strategy did the teacher use to help perfectionists engage in group work?
-The teacher asked them to observe the group without feeling the pressure to contribute immediately, and then report back on what wasn't working, serving as a bridge to get them more involved.
What is the general approach to dealing with students who are hesitant to work in groups?
-The approach involves understanding their reservations, asking for specifics about their concerns, and finding ways to gradually engage them in the group process.
How does the script suggest educators should approach the challenge of collaborative grouping?
-Educators should approach it with the understanding that collaboration may not always go smoothly but by learning from experiences and implementing best practices, they can improve the chances of success.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Challenges and Strategies in Collaborative Grouping

The script discusses the importance of collaborative grouping in education, noting its significance in developing a skill highly sought after by employers: the ability to collaborate virtually. It acknowledges the criticism that schools often fail to produce students adept at teamwork. The narrative highlights the dual challenge faced by teachers: fostering student-led classrooms to encourage collaboration while managing the chaos and inequity that can arise when some students do not contribute equally to group work. The speaker shares an anecdote about a successful group activity, emphasizing the clarity of expectations and defined roles for each group member as key factors. Conversely, another story illustrates the pitfalls of group dynamics when one student disengages, affecting the group's overall performance. The script suggests that while collaboration may not always be seamless, certain practices can enhance the likelihood of successful group activities.

05:01

🔍 Addressing the Concerns of Perfectionists in Group Work

This paragraph delves into the difficulties perfectionist students face in group settings, where they may feel that the group's output does not meet their personal standards of excellence. The speaker recounts a strategy used to engage perfectionist students by inviting them to observe the group process without the immediate pressure to contribute. This approach serves as a stepping stone, allowing these students to become gradually involved in the group's activities. The narrative suggests that educators should be sensitive to the different personality types and work incrementally to integrate all students into collaborative learning environments.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Collaborative Grouping

Collaborative grouping refers to the educational practice of organizing students into small groups to work together on a task or project. It is central to the video's theme, as it discusses the challenges and benefits of this method in teaching. The script mentions that collaborative skills are highly sought after by employers, indicating the importance of this practice in preparing students for the workforce. Examples from the script include a successful group activity on North Carolina history and a problematic science project group.

💡Employability Skills

Employability skills are the set of abilities and personal attributes that make an individual more likely to be employed. In the context of the video, the focus is on the ability to collaborate virtually, which is considered a top skill by employers. The script emphasizes the gap between what schools produce and what the workplace requires, highlighting the need for students to develop these skills through collaborative activities.

💡Student-Led Classroom

A student-led classroom is an educational environment where students are actively involved in their learning process, often taking the lead in discussions and activities. The script mentions that being a master teacher requires creating a classroom that is more student-led, which necessitates the use of collaborative groups. This concept is integral to the video's message about fostering collaboration and leadership among students.

💡Chaos in Group Work

Chaos in group work describes the disorder and lack of productivity that can occur when students are grouped together without clear direction or roles. The script acknowledges this as a common concern among teachers, citing examples of groups that failed due to lack of structure or participation. This keyword is crucial for understanding the challenges teachers face in implementing collaborative grouping.

💡Recognition

Recognition in the educational context refers to the acknowledgment or praise given to students for their work or achievements. The script raises the issue of fairness in group work, where some students may do the majority of the work while others receive equal recognition. This concept is important for understanding the dynamics of group work and the need for equitable distribution of effort and credit.

💡Roles and Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities pertain to the specific duties and expectations assigned to individuals within a group. The script discusses the importance of clearly defining these for each group member to ensure successful collaboration. An example from the script is the North Carolina history project, where each group member had a defined role and responsibility, contributing to the group's success.

💡Modeling

Modeling in education is the act of demonstrating or showing an example of how something should be done. The script mentions the use of a model to illustrate what a well-functioning group should look like. This concept is key to the video's theme as it shows how teachers can guide students towards effective collaboration by providing a visual or practical example.

💡Monitoring

Monitoring refers to the act of observing and overseeing a group's progress and performance. In the context of the video, the teacher walks around and monitors the groups to ensure they are working effectively. This keyword is important for understanding the teacher's role in facilitating and supporting collaborative group work.

💡Introversion

Introversion is a personality trait characterized by a preference for less stimulating environments and a tendency to be more reflective and less outgoing. The script touches on how introverted students might struggle with group work due to the need for time to think before contributing. This concept is relevant to the video's discussion on accommodating different personality types in collaborative settings.

💡Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a personality trait where individuals strive for flawlessness and set exceedingly high standards for themselves. The script discusses how perfectionists might have difficulty with group work because they fear the group's output will not meet their personal standards. This keyword is significant for understanding the challenges faced by certain students in collaborative environments and the need for teachers to address these concerns.

💡Incremental Engagement

Incremental engagement is the process of gradually involving students in activities or tasks, allowing them to ease into the process at their own pace. The script describes a teacher's strategy of allowing perfectionist students to observe a group before contributing, which serves as a bridge to full participation. This concept is important for understanding how teachers can support students who may be hesitant to engage in group work.

Highlights

Collaborative grouping is essential for teaching the number one skill employers seek: the ability to collaborate virtually.

Schools are criticized for producing students who struggle to work together in the workplace.

Master teachers are defined by classrooms that are more student-led, requiring collaboration in groups.

Teachers face the challenge of balancing the desire for collaborative skills with the chaos that can ensue in group work.

Some students may not contribute to group work, leading to unfair recognition for those who do the work.

Sharing stories of successful and unsuccessful group activities can provide insights for improving collaboration.

Clear expectations and defined roles within groups are crucial for successful collaborative activities.

Modeling what a successful group should look like can help students understand their responsibilities.

Monitoring groups and discussing their learning outcomes can enhance the collaborative experience.

Introverted students may struggle with the immediate demands of group work and require time to think before contributing.

Students may resist group work for various reasons, such as feeling that their individual contributions are not recognized.

Perfectionists may have difficulty working in groups if they feel the group's work does not meet their personal standards.

Engaging perfectionists by allowing them to observe and then provide feedback can be a strategy for gradual participation.

Education should involve incremental steps to help students adapt to group work and collaborative environments.

The transcript emphasizes the importance of collaboration in education and the workplace, and the challenges teachers face in facilitating it.

Successful group dynamics require clear communication of expectations and individual responsibilities.

Unsuccessful group experiences can provide valuable lessons on how to improve collaborative practices.

Students' personalities and working styles must be considered when forming groups to ensure a balanced and productive environment.