What is small group work good for?

Effective small groups get things done. However, they have much more going for them than just that. They can promote and improve learning in important ways.

Firstly, students develop their cognitive and metacognitive (‘learning how to learn’) abilities through having to explain and clarify their thoughts to the other group members. Explaining how they’ve reached a conclusion or arrived at an answer will involve an analysis of their own thought processes (Davidson & Worsham 1992:4). ‘Teaching’ material to others in this way helps deepen understanding, because you have to explain it so that your peers can understand it rather than simply ‘memorise’ it for your own purposes – which doesn’t necessarily mean you really understand it! In this way, small group work fosters deep learning. Furthermore, establishing meaning and understanding through presenting it to others helps you store and retain the information in your long term memory.

Secondly, students can test their own understanding of material, their opinions, their ability to perform unfamiliar activities (for example role play) with their peers. Some would not feel sufficiently confident to do these things in front of a tutor.

Thirdly, small group work, at its best, provides a supportive environment for active, independent learning. It offers both freedom and security. You’re helped to feel secure when given specific information and a clear task, yet you’re free to use and develop your own skills and judgment in analysing and synthesising the information. You’re less likely to feel isolated or go off on the wrong track when you have a group of peers to support you. There is the freedom to experiment and take risks and to develop social relationships. Many of my students, particularly those with large numbers on their courses and modules, have stressed the feeling of ‘belonging’ that developed within their groups.

Moreover, students are able to form views and opinions from their research, experiences and discussion with other group members rather than simply absorbing the tutor’s ideas. The others will introduce them to new ideas and ways of thinking, which can expand their knowledge and creative and critical abilities. Also, ownership of the outputs brings a sense of achievement and increases motivation.

Lastly, small group work caters for students with different learning styles and preferences. It allows opportunities for them to participate in a variety of tasks and activities not usually available in the more formal settings of lectures and seminars.

In summary, small group work is good for students’ learning because they can:

• use their peers as a learning resource
• learn to evaluate their own and others’ work
• share expertise, study methods, ideas, perspectives, concerns
• generate ideas (creative thinking)
• identify common areas of ignorance
• take risks in an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality
• learn to give and receive feedback
• give and receive support
• work through experience and misunderstandings
• develop negotiation skills
• develop self confidence and increase motivation
• produce synergies that individually they might not have discovered
• learn to become less dependent on tutors and take more control over their learning

Last Modified: 4 June 2010