Please use this document as a spring board for further comment and/or discussion. Enjoy!

In advance of the group work …

1. Fail to plan, plan to fail!
2. When structuring your session plan, build time in for the group to share their background, experiences and expertise
3. When structuring your session plan, remember group work is a two-way process, keep it as interactive as possible
4. When structuring your session plan, build in comfort breaks
5. Recognise there will be a range of learning styles within the group – structure your activities and vary them accordingly
6. Know your group if you can! Find out as much as possible in advance of the session about how the group will be comprised, how many, what backgrounds, volunteers or conscripts etc
7. Know what your aims and objectives for the session are, and the learning outcomes in relation to each of the planned activities
8. Be modest in what you aim to cover, it will always take longer than you think, but have back up material just in case
9. If you are going to split the group down into small teams then plan (and practice) techniques on how you will do this (e.g. counting off alternatively, splitting odd and even numbers, random choice, assigning letters…)
10. Do not assume the technology will work! Have a back up in terms of hand outs, spare OHT bulb

During the group work

11. Communicate, share and agree the aims, objectives and learning outcomes for the session with the group at the outset, and revisit them at the end. Check if they have been covered or renegotiated
12. Communicate, share and agree the framework for the session, any breaks etc
13. Set ground rules at the outset
14. Get to know your group – check your assumptions and the expectations of the participants, however well prepared your background research was, things can change
15. Remember group work is about the participants, not just about you
16. Keep an eye on the group dynamics, are all equally able to participate if they wish?
17. Don’t rush it! Less is more.
18. Don’t feel you need to know everything – it’s much better to admit to gaps in knowledge and elicit more from the group, or offer to follow up, than to try and bluff it out.
19. You are responsible for the process of the session, not all of the content – the latter is partly the responsibility of the group as a whole
20. Have the self-belief to jettison material rather than rush through the content
21. Learn to manage the physical environment. (arranging chairs and tables in appropriate formats, or determining who works with who when small group activities are needed)
22. Learn to feel comfortable with silence – it creates space for reflection
23. Quieter group members are not necessarily disengaged
24. Encourage and create opportunities for all to contribute, but don’t put anyone ‘on the spot’ in a way that might be uncomfortable and threatening
25. Make a distinction between behaviour that bothers you, and that which interferes with the learning of the group
26. Be open with the group about your knowledge gaps
27. Don’t be self-deprecating about either yourself or your material – you are a swan! The frantic paddling should all be happening under water.
28. You have the power, you own the space, but you can still negotiate over content, timings and follow up
29. Take water with you, you will get thirsty - and keeping hydrated aids voice projection
30. Take any resources your group may need – you can’t assume they will have pens, paper and/or something to lean on
31. The room will be hotter than you thought – wear layers
32. Value and acknowledge the contributions from participants at whatever level they come
33. Start and finish on time
34. Make yourself even more popular by finishing fractionally early if you can!

After the group work

35. Seek feedback from participants (formal evaluation forms, or ‘what have you learned’ comments)
36. Use the feedback to inform how you might deliver the same, or a similar session in the future
37. Don’t judge your whole performance on one excruciating moment
38. Review your practice, but don’t indulge in too much paranoiac self-criticism. Some things will be beyond your control, try and identify what other influences may affect your delivery and group dynamic
39. Make a note of things that worked and things that didn’t and amend your session plan accordingly

And don’t forget

40. Managing groups takes time, always allow longer than you think for exercises, and for larger groups build in extra time
41. Consider if your material may be contentious in some way – make sure you are able to follow up any issues that arise but can’t be resolved during the session
42. The group will not all be tigers … but they may not all be lambs either
43. Don’t be afraid to learn from others – get into the habit of watching colleagues delivering group work sessions whenever you can – and ask others to watch you – peer feedback can be positive
44. Pluck up the courage to get feedback from others – you can learn a lot, and might find it gives you increased confidence as well as new ideas
45. You yourself are part of the group, - you will need to manage the process, but you are not necessarily wholly responsible for the content
46. You are never going to please all of the people all of the time, but you have much more chance of doing so if you check the expectations of a group at the start.
47. At every stage, (before, during and afterwards) try to be sensitive to potential cultural differences (and or hierarchies) that might influence appropriateness of material and content, style of participation, willingness to share views and ideas
48. Nervousness is normal – try not to worry about it
49. If you enjoyed the session the chances are the group did too – well done!
50. Above all else, hang on to your sense of humour!

Handy hints from the University of Paisley

Group work – 10 handy hints used at the University of Paisley