MERITS OF GROUPWORK IN A CLASSROOM SITUATION

16/7/2017

Introduction

Enhancing group dynamics in a classroom situation is a powerful tool towards the teaching and learning process. This gives the learner an opportunity to interact with other learners which is instrumental in the acquiring of cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects of personality.

Advantages of enhancing group dynamics in a classroom situation

To improve the behavior of students
- the students come into contact with each other and acquire appropriate type of education
To develop mental processes
1. It encourages the development of critical thinking skills. Some sort of exchange of thoughts goes on in the class group through which intellectual activities like reasoning, memory, judgments, decisions, thinking and imagination develop.
To develop the feeling of self sacrifice
1. It promotes student learning and achievement. The students in a class room group remain in close contact with each other. Therefore so much love, good will and sympathy develops in them that in the time of need they do not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others.
To prepare for future social life
1. It enhances social skills and interactions. The students in a class room group remain in close contact with each other. Therefore so much love, good will and sympathy develops in them that in the time of need they do not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others.
2. Quiet students have an opportunity to speak and be heard in small groups thus overcoming the anonymity and passivity associated with large groups.
3. It provides a structured learning experience that can prepare students for the realities and diversity of the workplace, working with people with different skills, cultures, approaches and from different places.
To excite sympathy of numbers
1. A student starts doing as other students do. Their tendency is called sympathy of numbers.
To develop qualities of leadership
1. Students develop and practice skills in: decision making, problem solving, values clarification, communication, critical thinking, negotiation, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Students in classroom groups plan or organize a number of co curricular activities. Thus qualities of leadership are developed in them.
To acquire more knowledge
1. Deep rather than surface approaches to learning are encouraged. In a classroom group the students learn the habits of competition and imitation and get an inspiration to acquire more knowledge.
2. It facilitates greater transfer of previous knowledge and learning.
3. The focus is on student centered approach to teaching and learning, and assessment.
To develop the feeling of cooperation
1. Students are encouraged to become active rather than passive learners by developing collaborative and co-operative skills, and lifelong learning skills.
2. Nurtures an environment of support, trust and co-operative learning
3. Students have the opportunity to learn from and to teach each other.
4. It makes the Unit of Study challenging, interesting, motivating, engaging, and fun (for everyone)!
Teaching, learning and assessment options are increased.
It can save time and requires a shared workload.