Teachers as habit formers.
As teachers we are in the habit-forming business. Those habits that we model in front of young people influence the ways in which they perform and behave. Therefore, we need to be sure to foster productive learning habits. If, for example, we expect students to listen more than we expect them to speak, we may (or may not !) help them to hone their listening skills, but their abilities to discuss, argue and debate may be side-lined.
In such ways can good teachers, albeit inadvertently, stifle the very behaviours they are seeking to promote.
The pros and the cons
As with most things, collaborative learning may be a double-edged sword. On the plus side, an increase in collaboration and dialogue can lead to deeper understandings. On the other hand, such an increase can result the worst type of group work – one person doing it, three people watching them. Is the time invested in group work and student dialogue likely to compromise our ability to ‘deliver the curriculum’?
What do you think?
- What arguments would you mount in favour of increasing collaborative learning and student dialogue?
- What arguments would you mount against such an increase?
- On balance, which of these lines of argument do you find most persuasive?
Activity: Spot collaborative learning behaviours in your students
Have a quick think about how your students react to opportunities to talk with and learn from each other.
What do you think?
- Which classes/groups come to mind when looked at through this lens?
- Which classes seem to have a more negative reaction to learning in this way?
- Why might this be?
- How do reactions to opportunities to discuss and debate seem to relate to different levels of attainment or gender?
- Who attain most highly, the collaborative sociable, interdependent learner or the social isolate?
- Who do you prefer teaching?
Make a note of…
- Students who prefer to work on their own
- Students who use group work as an opportunity to allow others to do all the work
- Students who learn with and from their peers
- Behaviours you would like to change or improve in your students’ ability to learn effectively together.
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