Small Group Teaching Strategies
The lecture often falls short when it comes to some of the generic and transferable skills required for employers and professional bodies. In keeping with UCD’s strategic aims, these core competencies are where a small group may excel: analytic; communication and presentation skills as well as interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
The term 'small group teaching', or 'small group learning' as it is often termed, means different things to different people. Some are familiar with the tutorial as being their experience of small group teaching. The tutorial is usually linked with a series of lectures, and its role is to complement the lecture.
Tutorials may provide value in:
- Complementing knowledge from lectures.
- Expanding on the concepts considered in lectures.
- Promoting the practical application of knowledge.
- Encouraging student reflection.
- Developing students' communication skills.
- Enabling student collaboration and cooperative learning.
- Encouraging active life-long learning.
Practicalities of managing a small group/tutorial session
The following offers some simple queries one might address to ensure a successful and effective session:
Preparation
- Have you read key references, the module descriptor, course handouts, problem sheets or past exam papers?
- Have you consulted the course or module leader regarding what they would like the session to focus on?
- Do you know your cohort?
- Have you become familiar with their photos, emails, discipline, level or experience?
Planning
- Are you familiar with the module outcomes and the assessment protocol for the module?
- Have you created appropriate learning objectives (‘micro-outcomes’) for this session?
- Have you designed activities and tasks to facilitate active learning?
- Do you have enough time to do what you wish? Do you have a session plan?
- How will you gather feedback on the session and its effectiveness?
- How do you plan to use the Virtual Learning Environment (Brightspace) to support learning before, during and after?
Environment
- Have you checked out the venue you will be using?
- How many are registered to attend? How many will turn up? Will this affect break-out activities?
- Do you need particular works spaces or materials to support your session and are they readily available?
- Have you checked for tables, computers, flip charts and wall space
Assessment
- How does the session you are planning contribute to the course or module assessment?
- For example, do seminar contributions go towards assessment? Are you preparing the learners for an exam, an essay or a MCQ?
- Does the discussion or activity in the session inform the answering of exam questions or assignments?
- If so, have you formulated exam-type questions for discussion in class, offered rubrics or discussed criteria?
- Do you provide opportunity for discussion of feedback?
- If so, is the feedback timely, useful and direct? Can learners react to it and develop their work further?
Activities
- What learning activities might help the students to achieve the learning outcomes?
- How will you ensure everyone is able to participate equally and inclusively?
- Do you need an 'icebreaker' activity to begin the session?
- What review activity will you use at the end to help you plan for the next session?
Scheduling
- How long do you have? Is a break required?
- Do you need to make any announcements?
- For example, do you need to distribute the register, announce due dates, collect work or note count-downs for finals?
- Do you have a timetable for the module, its lectures, labs and tutorial sessions?
- What can you drop or add to the session if needs be?
Resources
- Equity Unbound This resource provides several practical exercises for community-building in online environments.
- Liberating Structures This resource provides 33 activities to spark small group work and conversation.
- Small Group Research (SGR) SGR is a peer-reviewed journal presenting research, theoretical advancements and empirically supported applications with respect to all types of small groups.
Watch our short presentation of tips and techniques for small group teaching strategies from our Teaching Toolkit Thursday series of webinars. NB: Please ensure you have cookies enabled on your browser to view the video. If you cannot see the video, go to your cookie preferences and allow targeting cookies.