Study group

A learning group , also known as a training group , is an association of learners who usually work on or deepen a learning content independently and cooperatively. In the teaching model of the Didactic Octagon, the learning group is one of eight variables to be taken into account when preparing lessons on the so-called "personnel axis" directly opposite the instructor .

Study group or work group

A learning group differs from a working group in that in a working group the creation of an end product or the work on it is set as the goal, while in the learning group the learning success of the individual is seen as the goal of the group, whereby the development of social, professional and methodological ability is determined as a secondary goal of the group.

application

Today, learning groups are used in almost all educational processes: school , vocational training , studies , advanced and advanced training , adult education, etc. Learning groups are used in addition to deepening the subject matter, often between two teaching units. In many concepts, they serve to independently develop learning content.

In modern concepts, learning groups completely replace teaching. The role of the "teacher" is then that of a learning guide and moderator . The "students" learn independently and cooperatively. You can either choose the learning content from a wide range or determine it entirely yourself.

Success Criteria

Criteria for the success of group work are described by Johnson & Johnson (1990) on the subject of cooperative learning (cf. Wessner in Haake et al., 2004, pp. 203–204):

Positive addiction

The group members are interdependent in such a way that none of them can succeed without the others being involved or unsuccessful. The desired results (common goals) can only be achieved successfully through good cooperation . The common goal is the most essential dependency, which increases the motivation of the group members.

Individual accountability

Each group member is responsible for activities in the group, such as completing the tasks, supporting the activities of others and overall for achieving the end goal. The achievements of individual members are visible and evaluated in the final result.

Encouraging interaction

The learners in a group encourage each other to achieve the goal by helping each other to obtain information, complete tasks, make partial decisions and misunderstandings.

Social competence

The social competence of the group members is promoted by the fact that the learners get to know each other in the group. They form a relationship of trust which guarantees further cooperation and communication within the group. Social competence is also a basic requirement for the success of a learning group.

Reflection on group work

Group work is not only optimized through feedback from the teacher; the group members improve their activities and group work by regularly addressing and evaluating their cooperation and the corresponding framework for this cooperation.

swell

DW Johnson, RT Johnson: Cooperative Learning and research. In: S. Shlomo (Ed.): Cooperative learning theory and research. Preager, New York 1990, pp. 23-37.
M. Wessner: study groups. In: Jörg M. Haake, Gerhard Schwabe, Martin Wessner (eds.): CSCL compendium. Instructional and manual for computer-aided cooperative learning. Oldenbourg, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-486-27436-8 , pp. 202-207.