Page 19 - Teacher's Guide: My Own SBA Toolkit for CSEC English Examinations

Forming small groups
CXC says
1)The SBA is expected to be done by each student working as an individual, and as a member of a small group approved by the teacher
2) Each student will create a Portfolio on
an issue/topic/theme/event selected by the students in the group and approved by the teacher
Source: Syllabus, p. 29.
As soon as the brainstorming activity is complete, students will form themselves in groups based on their mutual interest in a general topic You are required to approve the group and their topic
What to expect during the first few weeks
The first stage of group development is known as the forming stage. Here a few things to note:
• the group is just starting to come together and is characterized with anxiety and uncertainty
• members are cautious with their behaviour, which is driven by the desire to be accepted by all members of the group
• conflict, controversy and personal opinions are avoided even though members are beginning to form impressions of each other and gain an understanding of what the group will do together
• the focus for group members during the forming stage is to become familiar with each other and their purpose, not on work
Typical outcomes of the forming stage include:
4 gaining an understanding of the group’s purpose;
4 determining how the team will be organized and who will be responsible for what;
4 discussion of major milestones of the group’s goal (including a rough project schedule); and 4 outlining general group rules (including when they will meet) and discovery of what
resources will be available for the group to use
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Section 3: Working with Small Groups