Plan
 Facilitating effective group work
 Writing a good problem for YOUR course
Working in Groups
 When it’s good…
 When it’s bad…
The Keys to Successful CLASS Group
Work…
Interdependence
Accountability
Firing option!
Weekly in-class
group work
Group grades and
individual grades
Group Dynamics .
. . Peer
Evaluations
Self Evaluations
Instructor
Evaluations
Ethical and Effective Group
Participation…
 Be committed to the group goal
 Stay on Task
 Complete Individual Assignments
 Avoid Interpersonal Conflicts
 Encourage Participation
Managing Conflict
 Paraphrasing
 “What I hear you saying is…”
 Coping with Criticism
 Agree with the truth. (“You’re right. I am angry.” “Yes, I
suppose I was being sarcastic.”)
 Agree with the critic’s perception. (“I can understand
why you might think that. What I meant was..”)
Developing a Code of Ethics
Group Contract
Peer Critiques/Evaluations
Accountability/Consequences
Let’s Write a problem!
1. Course
2. Goal and Rationale
3. Learning Objectives
PBL Problem-Writing
Steps
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Step 1: Choose a central idea, concept, or principle.
Step 2: A real-world context
Step 3: Stage the problem (Story? Questions?)
Step 4: Write a lesson plan (≠ lecture notes).
Step 5: Identify starting place resources for students.
Step 6: How will you assess it?
Links to Helpful Resources
 University of Delaware PBL Resources:
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http://www.udel.edu/pbl/index.jsp
International PBL Symposium, 2010. February 8-12, Sao Paulo Brazil
http://each.uspnet.usp.br/pbl2010/index_en.htm
Center for Case Studies in Engineering, Carleton University
http://www.civeng.carleton.ca/ECL/cat-f93.html
PBL in Biology. http://www.saltspring.com/capewest/pbl.htm
IMSA PBL Network: Collaborative Inquiry in Action
http://pbln.imsa.edu/
Remember . . .
 There’s nothing wrong with baby steps . . .
 They’re still steps!
 [email protected]