True John. Are you thinking of groupthink etc? The drive for consensus in some groups can certainly militate against learning. However, the group-norm can also be 'critical' rather than one in search of consensus. For instance, an academic group would see individuals 'being critical' as normative. In contrast, a business-based group may strive for consensus as their norm (risking groupthink). Indeed, being critical would be seen as an act of dis-identification in a group with a consensus-norm. In contrast, it would be an indicator of belonging in an academic-related group. A group with a critical norm can therefore be conducive to learning. In that way, being mindful of such a group can promote engagement via social identification.

Is that what you mean or are you referring to Wenger's sociocultural theory of 'community'? Either way the tutor role is to curate the group identity and also develop a critical group-norm for learning, belonging etc. (incidentally, that's what our workshops below are all about).  


Best Wishes,
Nick

--------------------------------------
Dr. Nicholas Bowskill, SFHEA,
Lecturer in Education (UDOL)
University of Derby,
Kedleston Road,
Derby

WORKSHOP: Student-Generated Induction: A Social Identity Approach, Edinburgh
Tues 14th Nov.: http://bit.ly/2zsCHFQ  


Nicholas Bowskill is a former Kelvin-Smith Scholar at University of Glasgow. Nicholas is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is lead tutor for SEDA online workshop on Introduction to Educational Change and Lecturer in Education (UDOL) at University of Derby. He is a reviewer for various published journals including: Interactive Learning Environments and International Journal of Art and Design Education. SharedThinking is an independent consultancy.


On 24 October 2017 at 21:17, Lea, John ([log in to unmask]) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Indeed Nick … but group-mindeness is often not a community open to learning as such…sometimes the very opposite.


Depends...

 

Best

 

John

 

John Lea



From: Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development Association <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Nicholas Bowskill <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 24 October 2017 20:58

To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: small group teaching
 
John, 'au contraire' 😀 there is a growing literature in social psychology on anonymity in social media leading to group-mindedness. And anyway group-identification can be activated with nobody else physically present ( read a newspaper headline or think of your favourite football team etc). 


Best Wishes,
Nick

--------------------------------------
Dr. Nicholas Bowskill, SFHEA,
Lecturer in Education (UDOL)
University of Derby,
Kedleston Road,
Derby

WORKSHOP: Student-Generated Induction: A Social Identity Approach, Edinburgh
Tues 14th Nov.: http://bit.ly/2zsCHFQ  


Nicholas Bowskill is a former Kelvin-Smith Scholar at University of Glasgow. Nicholas is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is lead tutor for SEDA online workshop on Introduction to Educational Change and Lecturer in Education (UDOL) at University of Derby. He is a reviewer for various published journals including: Interactive Learning Environments and International Journal of Art and Design Education. SharedThinking is an independent consultancy.


On 24 October 2017 at 20:39, Lea, John ([log in to unmask]) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

…that would make the term `facebook group’ an oxymoron.  Something I’ve often thought…

 

Best

 

John

 

John Lea


From: Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development Association <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of James Wisdom <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 24 October 2017 20:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: small group teaching
 
When everyone can see equally the eyes and faces of the others

James

********************************
James Wisdom
25 Hartington Road
Chiswick
London, W4 3TL

Phone: 020 8 994 4231
Mobile: 07939 133 370
Skype: james-wisdom
[log in to unmask]

On 24/10/2017 15:47, Alison.James wrote:

Dear colleagues

 

This may seem like a daft and simple question - but how do you define small group teaching in your institution? And what literature do you recommend to explore the use of this?

 

I know small group teaching sounds like a name for the proverbial obvious but trust me it isn't....

 

All best

 

Alison

 

 

Professor Alison James

Director Academic Quality and Development

University of Winchester

 

Professor of Learning and Teaching

National Teaching Fellow 2014

Principal Fellow Higher Education Academy

 

http://www.engagingimagination.com

https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/innovating-creative-arts-lego

http://iedp.com/articles/developing-leaders-magazine-issue-19/

 

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