Group Discussion
The two major objectives of a group project are:
- What is learned: factual material as well as the process of working in a group.
- What is produced: written paper, presentation, assignment and/or media project.
Participating in a group discussion gives you a chance to:
- Formulate your own ideas.
- Try opinions out and develop your own critical faculty.
- Ask questions arising from lectures, your reading of a text or critical material.
- Get to grips with subject with help from your peers and your tutor
- Get to know other people
| Factors leading to ineffective group discussion | Factors leading to effective group discussion |
|---|---|
| Unwillingness to listen, fixed position | Listening to each other's points of view |
| Lack of input in discussion | Contributing and sharing ideas, not being afraid to take risks |
| Exclusion of some members | Everyone getting their say |
| Lack of confidence in one's own knowledge and opinions | Preparation - aids understanding of discussion, enables formulation of own opinions and contribution to discussion. Informal discussion outside tutorials can build confidence |
| Being intimidated - both by tutor's knowledge and by other members of the group | Trust and mutual respect create a safe and relaxed atmosphere |
| Long silences - can be uncomfortable | But, giving each other to reflect and formulate ideas is important too |
| Not feeling like you can ask questions | Being prepared to ask questions, clarify points and become familiar with terminology |
| Some members not responding to other people's ideas, e.g. looking out the window, staring at the floor etc. | Positive body language shows you are alert and involved in the discussion - e.g. nodding, eye-contact, affirmative noises all help to create a mutually supportive atmosphere |
| Physical location, type of teaching room and seating arrangements can all affect group discussion | Although physical location is often beyond our control, try to make the best of it. It helps to be able to see all members of the group |
| Fear of group processes | Acknowledgement of group dynamics |
| Size is important | Larger groups can be broken down into smaller groups |
| Problem of fortnightly meetings, lack of commitment of group members can lead to problems in forming group dynamic | Continuity important in creating positive and safe group atmosphere - shared involvement and commitment helps |
| Attitudes within the group affect group discussions | Ideally all members facilitate group discussion by helping to create a safe environment for the exploration of ideas |
Useful tips for working in teams/groups
- The leader must take responsibility for what the team is trying to achieve.
- Team leaders must inspire themselves first.
- High performance teams must focus their tasks and also continuously review their performance.
- Leaders must encourage listening.
- Leaders must push for clear deadlines.
- Teams thrive on clear goals.
- People respond to challenges that stretch their abilities and tap into their natural creativity.
- Leaders must regularly invite team members to share their feelings.
- Leaders must promote team relationships and the development of mutual trust.
- To be effective, the entire team must meet regularly.
- Team meetings need proper agendas.
- At team meetings, the chairperson must be responsible for encouraging both task and process, allowing enough time for each issue, ensuring everyone gains a hearing, and ending the meeting on time.
- Team member’s needs to understand how they contribute to the team’s success.
- The team’s success should be celebrated frequently.
- Major tasks should be broken into more manageable stages.
- It is the leader’s responsibility to help the team understand what stage of development it has reached.
- Good teams keep action minutes that show everyone what was decided, who will do what, and by when.
- All team members should have a role that fully stretches them.
- The team leader should regularly ask the team: “What specifically can I do to make your job easier and more satisfying?” Team members should regularly ask the leader: “What specifically can we do to help you be a more effective team leader?”
- The leader must ensure that everyone holds the same picture of what team success should look and feel like
- University of Southampton Guide to Working in Groups.
http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/studyguides/Working%20in%20Groups.doc - University of Delaware Guide to Group Work.
http://www.physics.udel.edu/~watson/scen103/colloq2000/workingingroups.html
Further Reading:
External links: