Problem Solving, Question Asking, and Active Learning

Goals:

Opening Activity: Individual Work

Take 5 minutes to identify 1-2 questions, comments, or concerns from each reading. Write them down.

Group Activities

Today we're going to work in groups of 5. We'll start by forming those groups with a count off.

Go ahead and move so that you can be with your group, taking all of your belongs with you. Then direct your attention back to the full class.

Activity 1: Questions, comments, concerns

Get acquainted with each others: names and departments, etc.
Choose a group recorder and a group checker
- Recorder: takes notes to report back to the full class
- Checker: ensures everyone participates
Share your questions, comments and concerns about each reading: Bean (Coaching Thinking w/ Small Groups), Brookfield (Keeping Voices in Balance), and Barkley (Problem Solving)
Discuss these items within the group and identify 3 key items (question/comment/concern) that the group wants to bring back to the full class to discuss
Take 15 minutes for this activity. Go!
During the full group discussion, as you participate, also pay attention to the discussion dynamics and how the professor is managing them. This will be part of the discussion as well!

Activity 2: Problem Solving

Identify a new recorder and a new checker.
Groups 1 and 2 are tasked with the problem of students who are dominating discussion. As a group, discuss some of the reasons this may occur and identify 2-3 strategies for either preventing it or managing it in the moment.
Groups 3 and 4 are tasked with the problem of students who do not participate. As a group, discuss some of the reasons this may occur and identify 2-3 strategies for either preventing it or managing it in the moment.
Group 5 is tasked with the problem of a discussion where some students are dominant and others are not participating. As a group, discuss some of the reasons this may occur and identify 2-3 strategies for either preventing it or managing it in the moment.
Take 15 minutes for this activity.
During the full group discussion, as you participate, also pay attention to the discussion dynamics and how the professor is managing them. This will be part of the discussion as well!

Activity 3: Discuss your next assignment

Identify a new recorder and a new checker.
For next week, you are asked to design a collaborative learning activity. Essentially this is a partial lesson plan for a class meeting in which you introduce a key concept from your field and invite students to create an opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the concept through collaborative or active learning. This can involve groups but is not restricted to group work.
Going around the group, discuss what concepts you might choose to teach and how you might want to use active or collaborative learning. Support each other by giving suggestions and feedback.
Take 20 minutes for this activity.
During the full group discussion (which we may not have time for), as you participate, also pay attention to the discussion dynamics and how the professor is managing them. This will be part of the discussion as well!