June 2, 2022
June 2, 2022
Children learn in a variety of ways. When it comes to traditional education, there is a lot of emphasis on the teacher–classroom learning system, where an educator plans and presents the curriculum to the class and students work individually through lessons. While schooling in this way is effective, there are other types of learning that can be implemented alongside the traditional method to further educational prowess and enhance a child’s learning experience.
One such type of learning that is typically used alongside the individual learning method is called group learning. Group learning goes by many names, including group work, team learning, peer instruction, and cooperative learning. But what is group learning, exactly, and how can it benefit your child’s educational success? Read on as we dive into what group learning teaches students.
What is group learning?
Group learning, as the name suggests, involves working with peers to reach a collective goal. It puts groups of students together to tackle problems or projects together. Instead of students being put to the test on their own based on their individual understanding of learning material, they are put together with peers who have learned the same content but may have a different perspective to bring to the lesson.
For example, if a group is put together in an English class, one person may have one idea about a story’s meaning while another could see things entirely differently. This melding of minds and ideas brings about a new way to learn from not just a teacher, but other students as well.
Group sizes can be anywhere from two individuals (e.g. partnering up in chemistry labs) up to larger groups of 10 or more students. The size of the group is typically tailored to the subject being taught.
Why is group learning important?
Group learning is important for a variety of reasons. When a teacher is front and center to provide the course material, students are learning things from one perspective and through one method. Each educator will have their own way of teaching, and while they all cater to their students as best they can, some people may learn better in a different way to their teacher’s chosen method.
For example, if a teacher shows students how to complete a math problem and one student in the class doesn’t follow, the student having difficulties may be able to see things from a different angle if their peers were to show them how they got to the correct answer.
Group learning provides students with many types of learning opportunities that they don’t have otherwise; it can help students utilize creative and critical thinking among a group of people with different perspectives. By working together, students can uncover new ways to solve problems, clear up any misconceptions they may have in regard to the coursework, and learn to articulate their own ideas.
How does group learning help students?
As mentioned above, group learning may help further students’ understanding of certain topics by giving them the opportunity to converse and collaborate with others who are learning the same subject matter. But that’s not all: students who participate in group learning can also sharpen other skills that are required for success in both education and life.
For example, communication is a key area that students can greatly improve in a group learning setting. Working within a group prompts students to communicate clearly and effectively, brainstorming together to solve problems or deepen their understanding. Through this level of social learning, students are able to learn from one another at the same time as improving their ability to communicate their critical thought processes.
Critical thinking is also a skill required by students wishing to succeed, and group learning helps to sharpen that skill. This learning method gives students new perspectives to consider, provides new ways of looking at problems, and teaches the ability to utilize one’s own methods alongside the methods of others to come to a group solution. With group learning, students become active learners alongside their peers, learning collaborative skills that will not only help them in their education, but in their everyday lives.
What are the benefits of group learning?
There are many benefits of note when it comes to group learning:
While individual learning is effective, group learning is an important facet of education that helps further students’ development, as well as teaching wider social skills they can use in their day-to-day lives.
Featured image by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash