Active group work – making it inclusive

Professor Christine HockingsInstitute for Learning EnhancementUniversity of Wolverhampton

HEA / UWBS subject conference

Group Working

June 20th 2012

Academic engagement in groups

They are actively exploring their own and others’ knowledge, experience and backgrounds in a search for deep

understanding, meaning and knowing

 Teachers’

approaches to & craft in L&T

Teachers’ conceptions of

students

Teachers’ knowledge & experience

Educational background

Social & cultural background

Aspirations & interests

Approaches to learning

Life & work experiences

Prior knowledge Ways of knowing

A key challenge is how to engage all individuals within a large and diverse group…

Synthesisinginformation

Questioning & challenging ideas

Conjecturing & critiquing

Reflecting & evaluating

Benefits of ‘mixing’ student groups

• maximises learning from different people, cultures, etc

• develops interpersonal and team working skills

• fosters peer support networks outside class

• helps to establish relational equity between individuals

• Watch these video clips.

• What challenges do the students and teachers face when coordinating and working within mixed groups?

• What strategies could you adopt for addressing these challenges? What resources & support would you need? (20 mins)

Challenges for teachers & students

A

B

C

Engaging ALL students in mixed groupsCreate safe, inclusive spaces• Get to know students as individuals• Establish ground rules for collaborative learning

Harness students’ experience and knowledge• Start with what students know, then apply theory (biographical turn) • Connect with students’ lives and future aspirations• Facilitate uncertainty, confusion & difference• Encourage public articulation of thinking & problem solving

Teach reflexively and with sensitivity to differences• Mindful of impact of own beliefs and identity on student learning• Coordinate interaction, mixing different students (with a purpose)• Anticipate, prepare & respond flexibly to different and emerging

requirements and interests

Becoming an engaging and inclusive teacher in HE

www.wlv.ac.uk/LTImodule

3 units Content, activities, forum, assessment,

links to other resources, etc. LTI video collection - Over 130 video

clips in a range of subjects. All subtitled.

Module developed in Xerte for accessibility

Available via OU Labspace or via UoW website.

Down load and repurposing guide with video tutorial

Currently embedded in UoW

Learning to Teach Inclusively Module

References and linksHockings, C., Brett, P & Terentjevs, M (2012) Making a difference – Inclusive

learning and teaching in higher education through open education resources. Journal of Distance Education.

Hockings, C (2011) Hearing voices, creating spaces: the craft of the ‘artisan’ teacher’ in a mass higher education system. Critical Studies in Higher Education 52 (2) 191-205

Hockings, C. (2010). Inclusive learning and teaching in higher education: a synthesis of research. York HEA.

Hockings, C., Cooke, S., & Bowl, M. (2010). Learning and teaching in two universities within the context of increasing student diversity: complexity, contradictions and challenges. In M. David (Ed.), Improving learning by widening participation. London: Routledge.

Perry, W. & Hockings, C. (forthcoming) Using LTI OER to support local academic development initiatives. Available from www.wlv.ac.uk/LTIEmbedding

OER module Learning to Teach Inclusively www.wlv.ac.uk/LTImoduleOER Learning to Teaching Inclusively Project website

www.wlv.ac.uk/teachinclusively