Using Group Work to Improve Students' Science Learning

Details

Course Code: 81718C (Session 1)
Date: 9th December 2008
Venue: Shrewsbury Training & Development Centre
Time: 13:15 - 16:00

Course Code: 81718C (Session 2)
Date: 17th March 2009
Venue: Shrewsbury Training & Development Centre
Time: 13:15 - 16:00

Target audience

Subject leaders, key stage co-ordinators, class teachers, teaching assistants.

Course content

New programmes of study at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 emphasise the need for students to collaborate in their learning. Research indicates that students enjoy learning more and learn more effectively when they engage in meaningful dialogue with each other. However, group work has to be carefully planned and structured if students are to get the most out of the experience. This course looks at how teachers can achieve this.

Intended outcomes

Participants will:
- have improved understanding of the need for dialogue in the classroom
- have a recognition of the obstacles to effective group work
- have improved understanding of strategies to achieve effective group work.

Five Outcomes: Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution, Achieve Economic Well Being

Programme

The programme will include:

Day 1

Session 1 - research evidence of the use of dialogue and group work in the classroom
Session 2 - obstacles to effective group work
Session 3 - strategies to improve dialogue and group work
Session 4 - setting up the gap task

Day 2

Session 1 - reviewing the outcomes of the gap task
Session 2 - developing roles for students in group work
Session 3 - moving dialogue forward to the next stage
Session 4 - next steps.

We aim to put finalised course programmes on the website two weeks ahead of the course date.