Study group

A learning group also training group is a coalition of students, mostly independently and cooperatively develop or deepen a learning content. In the teaching model of the teaching octagon is the learning group as one of eight instrumental in the preparation of lessons to be considered quantities on the so-called " axis staff " directly opposite the instructor.

Study group or working group

A learning group is different from a workgroup in that in a working group to create a final product or the work is mind set as a target, whereas in the study group of the learning success of the individual is considered as a target of the group, the development of social, technical, and methods ability is determined as a secondary objective of the group.

Application

Learning groups are now used in almost all educational processes: school, vocational training, higher education, continuing education, adult education, etc. learning groups are used in addition to the deepening of the substance, often between two lessons. In many concepts they serve the independent development of educational content.

In modern concepts learning groups replace most of the teaching. The role of "teacher" is then a learning companion and facilitator. The " students " learn independently and cooperatively. You can choose either the learning content from a wide range, or are they entirely itself

Success criteria

Criteria for the success of group work, describe Johnson & Johnson (1990 ) on cooperative learning (see Wessner in Haake et al, 2004, pp. 203-204. )

Positive dependence

The group members are mutually dependent in the way that none of them can succeed without the other are involved or unsuccessful. Only good cooperation the desired results ( common goals ) can be achieved successfully. The common goal is the essential dependence, which increases the motivation of the group members.

Individual accountability

Each group member is responsible for group activities such as performing the tasks, supporting the activities of others and a total for the achievement of the final goal. The achievements of individual members are valued and visible in the final result.

Promoting interaction

The students in a group to promote to achieve the objective by helping each other in obtaining information, the execution of the tasks, the partial decisions and misunderstandings.

Social competence

The social competence of group members is promoted, that the learners get to know the group. They form a relationship of trust, which ensures the continued cooperation and communication in the group. Social competence is also a prerequisite for the success of a learning group.

Reflection of the group work

Not only through feedback from teachers group work is optimized; the group members improve their activities and group work by its focus and regularly evaluate their cooperation and the appropriate framework for this cooperation.

Swell

• Johnson, D.W & Johnson, R. T. (1990). Cooperative learning and research. In S. Shlomo ( Ed. ) Cooperative learning theory and research. New York: Preager, pp. 23-37.
• Wessner, M.: Learning groups ( 2004). In Jörg M. Haake, Gerhard Schwabe, Martin Wessner (Ed.): CSCL compendium. Teaching and the manual for the computer- supported collaborative learning. Munich: Oldenbourg, ISBN 3-486-27436-8, pp. 202-207.

• Didactics