Page 230 - DEDU505_TEACHER_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Teacher Education

Notes The group investigation, as a group-controlled activity, requires a lot of your guidance to
be successful. The knowledge gained through this type of instruction promotes deeper
understanding of how childem learn in groups as well as individually.
(iv) Group Projects: You have studied in the preceedhg sub-section about group investigation as
a group-controlled method of learning. In some situations, group investigation may be a
project work. Thus project wok is a broader concept which includes investigation or any
other activity which may be completed in itself. At the school stage there are several
activities which can not be completed by an individual and which require a group of
students to work together. For example, the activities presented below can be taken up as
group projects:
• Presentation of models of different types of houses in a particular region of the country
• Models of hydro-electric power generators
• Models of different types of dams
• Plantation and care of house-hold plants
• Study of a country's location, climate, crops, people and industries, and presenting them
in the form of charts, maps, etc.
• Preparation of models of different organs of the body
• Conducting market surveys, etc.
A group project means a planned set of activities which are undertaken by a group of students
with defined objectives and which results in a finished product or practical accomplishment. In a
group project, students learn by developing collectively a plan of action related to the subject
matter to be learnt through their whole-hearted involvement in the activities. The course of
action should be complete in itself. There are defmite, but not rigid, steps to be followed in
completing a group project work.
Steps in a group project: A group project involves the following steps:
• Formation of groups: The whole class may be divided into small groups of 5-7 students,
keeping in mind the hetrogeneity criteria
• proposing: At this stage the decisions are made about what is to be done. The objectives of
the project are stated explicity. The students may need your guidance in selecting the project
and stating its objectives.
• Planning: In group project various means to attain objectives are considered and the most
appropriate means are selected Some action plan is also chalked out according to the group
decisions. Appropriate activities are identified and allotted to different members of the group.
Project work is planned in such a way that involvement of all the members of the group is
ensured.
• Implementing: project activities should be carried out by the members of group according to
the plan. Students should be encouraged to discuss their allotted activities frequently and
help each other in completing their activities. The group as a whole should come out with
a finished product or an accomplishment.
• Evaluation: The success of the group project should be evaluated on the basis of the attainment
of the set objectives. In addition, you should observe how closely and cooperatively the
group has worked to accomplish the project and prepare a finished product. It is also
advisable to arrange an exhibition of the products and accomplishments and invite 1 or 2
teachers who could judge and evaluate the projects.
Self Assessment
2. Multiple choice questions: Choose the correct option
(i) Group controlled instruction is of ................... types.
(a) two (b) three (c) four (d) five
(ii) .................. is not individual learning but group or peer learning.
(a) cooperative learning (b) orientation learning
(c) group controlled learning (d) learner controlled instruction

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