Small group learning and teaching

This teaching resource note by Caroline Maughan (University of the West of England) provides an introduction to a range of design and delivery issues relevant to the use of small group learning and teaching. Small groups are defined here as groups of up to four students, working on tasks often within the setting of a larger group learning environment.

Editor’s note: for more on this topic see LearnHigher’s Making group-work work video resource, which shows five students on the journey of a group project in 10 short episodes

This teaching resource note is organised around a set of nine frequently asked questions (FAQs) exploring:

• the nature and function of small group learning
• the risks and opportunities associated with small groups
• the assessment of small groups

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is small group learning and teaching?
2. What activities are suitable for small group work?
3. What is an effective group?
4. What is small group work good for?
5. What are the benefits for teachers?
6. What can go wrong and why?
7. How can you make it work?
8. How can small group work be assessed?
9. What do students think about small group work?

Appendix

• References and Further Reading

Acknowledgements

These materials are in part the product of past workshops run collaboratively with Mike Maughan and/or Julian Webb. My thanks to them for making collaboration challenging, creative and fun – which is as it should be.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010