The modern world is full of innovations and new ideas. The sphere of education is not an exception. There are a lot of new methodologies which aimed to make students interested in the subject, that provides more productive work in the class and requires deeper knowledge in it. Group work is very productive as working in groups students remember the material better as communication is the best way to learn and consolidate achievements.
There are several cooperative learning structures used in the class, which may be successfully provided at any stage of students’ learning. Structured Problem Solving is one of the group work methodologies. The main idea of the method is that the students are divided into groups of four. The statement is given by the teacher, which should be either supported or argued, but the arguments should be strong and persuasive. The discussion is held in groups, the students are free to express their ideas about the topic and to give persuasive arguments. One of the students (1, 2, 3, or 4) is chosen as the group spokesman, whose task is to handle the ideas of the whole group about the statement. Each person can be asked, so everybody is involved in the discussion process. In order not to repeat the ideas, not all groups are given an opportunity to say their words (Millis, 2009).
The described methodology is very productive, in the way that students are given an opportunity to express their ideas about the issue, to listen to their classmates, and to argue if the ideas in the group are diametrically opposite. The truth is born in dispute, and such discussions activate students’ minds. Students think actively and do not just waste their time during classes. Group work helps students to become close what is also very important in the educational process.
Group work should be provided in class with the purpose to let students express their ideas and give persuasive arguments in order to convince other classmates. The change of activities is very important in the class and the group work, as the discussion section, is the best substitution for reading or writing.
People who are against group work usually represent such arguments, labor-intensive preparation to the lesson, the problems with students’ organization (behavior), the absence of constant contact of a teacher with students, when they are working in groups. Listening to such arguments, a lot of opposite ideas come to mind. What about teaching students to be independent? The constant fear to leave students alone is teachers’ fault, as they cannot teach them to think independently, without a teacher. Work in a group teaches students to be free from supervision and be able to make decisions of their own.
Group work is one of the types of class activity which helps students to activate their minds and to discuss the questions with their classmates. Work in a group has a lot of advantages, but teachers should not abuse this type of learning as students get tired from the monotonous work, and the desire to study leaves them quickly.
References
Millis, B. J. (2009). Cooperative Learning Structures. The University of Texas at Austin. Online.