Planning and Facilitating Group Learning [Book]

This is an innovative text for teacher educators exploring detailed research and information that novice teachers need to know about group work in school settings. There is more to learn about group work than simply sitting children together and letting them get on with it! Group work across schools is very common and trainee teachers will step into classrooms where small groups are a predominant structure. Research has suggested that there is a great deal more to understand about group work, however there is a tacit presumption in ITE that trainee teachers will simply pick up the expertise associated with organising and managing group work. This book aims to fill in the gaps and educate trainee teachers on the subtleties and complexities of group work to ultimately make their teaching more impactful and effective. In this accessible and informative guide, the authors delve into the existing research on how children learn in collaborative groups and what trainee teachers need to learn and understand about planning and executing group learning. It examines the skills teacher educators should aim to develop in pre-service teachers to help them build expertise in this important area. Following other books within the series, this book is packed with case studies and opportunities for critical thinking.