Unit(s): Group Discussion
Purpose:
To maintain order within a group
Objective:
The student will learn why all group members cannot talk at once and the importance of controlling this tendency.
Materials:
None
Procedure:
Organizing for action
Maintaining order within a group is a basic skill that needs constant attention and reinforcement. Students must learn why they cannot all talk at once, and they need to develop possible ways to control this tendency. In some cases agreeing on a chairman or sergeant-at-arms to maintain order is the only hope. In other groups self-discipline and simple courtesy will suffice. But group members themselves should decide how much control they need and how they wish to organize to provide it. In the activity below students are given a simple task to perform - one that involves every member to at least some degree - and - are turned loose to perform it. the teacher should not interfere with suggestions on how to organize the group, so that members themselves will realize inductively -though probably after a great deal of chaos - that control and organization are necessary.
students are seated in a circle with the teacher standing outside the group. Only the following instructions are to be given:
You are to calculate the average height in feet and inches of the members of this group. If a member does not know his/her exact height, he/she may give an estimate. the group must agree on the answer and appoint someone to submit to the teacher.
Repeat directions until all students understand them. Then step away, and do not talk to the group until the problem is solved.
Follow-up:
Careful discussion of the process used for solving the problem will help students understand the possible ways of organizing a group. Focus discussion on questions such as:
- What slowed the group down?
- What problems did it have in organizing?
- Did anyone take over leadership?
- Is this good or bad?
- Was a leader needed?
- What responsibility did each member have?
- How could the group solve the problem faster next time?