A common challenge when students work in small groups is to keep them focused on the task at hand. Working in small groups gives students the opportunity to practice higher-order thinking skills that instructors love to teach. Students who work in small groups generally learn more from the material and retain their knowledge longer than students who don't (Davis, 199.Small group work can range from short, informal exercises to formalized problem sets that make up the bulk of the class. Contrary to popular belief, instructors can incorporate small group work into large conferences, as well as seminars and discussion sections.
Here we have compiled examples of small group exercises that range from informal to formal and that work well with a variety of class sizes. Working in small groups opens the door to more creative ideation and collaboration without the inevitable bureaucracy that comes with working with larger groups. When you use small groups to help find solutions or boost understanding in a meeting, you'll also see improvements in accountability and communication. Smaller teams allow for greater responsibility, autonomy and flexibility, both in terms of changes based on programming and ideas.
“They foster greater trust among team members and less fear of failure.
