Learning environment and partnerships

Special educational needs and/or disabilitiesTraining toolkit

Managing student groupings

Session 14

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Learning outcomes

You will:− understand the benefits of collaborative learning for

students with SEN and/or disabilities − be familiar with research on student grouping

strategies and peer mentoring − be able to select appropriate student groupings − know ways of teaching students how to work in groups

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Learning outcomes

You will:− understand the benefits of collaborative learning for

students with SEN and/or disabilities − gain experience of ‘think-pair-share’, a collaborative

learning strategy

Activity 1

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Learning outcomes

You will:− be familiar with research on grouping strategies− know how to select appropriate student groupings

Activity 2

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Summary

− Group students flexibly according to what and how you want them to learn

− Whenever possible, provide students with good role models and peer support

− Plan for social as well as academic learning

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Learning outcomes

You will: − learn that students need to be taught how to work

effectively in groups− experience ‘jigsaw’ groupings − know some ways of teaching group work skills

Activity 3

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Learning outcome

You will be familiar with evidence about the benefits of peer mentoring for supporting students experiencing difficulties with their learning

Activity 4

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Peer support

− Readily available and costs nothing− Benefits the ‘mentor’ as well as the ‘mentee’− Can involve older students working with younger ones− Can involve students in one class or year group

working together

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Peer mentoring

Peer mentoring is thought to:− enhance students’ self-esteem− provide opportunities for consolidating the peer

mentor’s own learning

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Learning outcome

You will identify ways of helping students to work independently

Activity 5

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Learning outcomes

You will:− reflect on the session− identify key points of action for yourself

Activity 6

Session 14Managing student groupingsLearning environment and partnerships

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Key learning points

− How to group students flexibly according to what you want them to learn

− How to help students learn the skills needed for effective group work

− How to use peer mentoring− How to help students to work independently