Documentation Examples > Documentation Exhibition

Get it From the Source: Students Reflect on Group Learning

School: Fenway High School, Boston, MA

8. Outcomes for Instruction

? Teacher must carefully choose groups.

? Depending on the particular assignment, the teacher should be more or less involved.

? Teacher must understand the students, not only in terms of skill level, but also personality and relational skills.


? Taping a class for reflection is key to see how students learn and whether they choose to help other students.

? Taping the class is also essential for students to learn about their own work habits, interpersonal skills, and recall.

? Gender balance is crucial. Use mixed groups but don?t shy away from single-sex grouping.


? Using assigned roles can be important to encouraging students to get out of their comfort zone.

? Use a representative sample of students to discuss the class. The whole class is not necessarily essential to have a productive reflection.

? When designing an assignment, the teacher should look to students as a resource. They should be part of the planning process, in terms of the flow of lesson and the purpose of the groups.