Week 50: Group Learning

Group learning is a wonderful technique which helps trainers move towards perfection.

Group learning helps:

• In building confidence
• Receiving peer support
• In building capacity to handle risks
• In developing the trait of personal accountability
• In deeper understanding of the content

Small – group learning helps trainer to reach greater levels. In group learning every individual’s hard work adds value to the improvement of the other. Every one’s pocket gets filled with the treasure from all other members of the group.

STEPS

Things to be done before commencing Group Learning

1. Choice and number of persons in the group
2. A group of 4 but not more than 6 of like-minded would be very ideal in the beginning stages.
3. Choose the objective, identify a common goal
   Goal may be a broader/larger or specific.
   Ex: (Broader goal) To be a better trainer
   Ex: To improve content knowledge about the topic “Disputes and Conflicts” (Specific goal)
4. Time Limit
   Interim Arrangement: Have only one session or three sessions spread over a week, month or two.
   Continued arrangement: Have weekly /fortnightly / daily sessions etc.
5. Circulate the topic identified for group learning
   Allocate time to each of the members to give presentation on the topic. It is ideal to have not more than 15 minutes for each of the participants.
6. Request each of the participants to have all the materials ready with them.
7. Identify the focus point of feedback
   Contents/ presentation skills/ questioning skills/ examples, case histories etc.

Things to be done after commencing Group Learning

1. Let each trainer give presentation on the topic.
2. As soon as the session is over request others to give their feedback.
   Collection of feedback is to be done in a structured manner.
   • First, collect feedback only on “contents” part
   • Identify the areas where the speaker needs improvement
   • Identify the areas where the speaker is completely wrong.
   • Correct the error in the understanding by group discussion
     Then move on to the presentation part
     Then move on to the time management part.
     If fifteen minutes’ time is allocated for presentation, for the feedback part fifteen minutes’ time can be allocated.
     Thus, in a session of an hour two speakers can give their presentation, and take constructive feedback from two others.

Making use of technology

It is ideal to use virtual platform for group learning using platforms like ZOOM, WEBEX etc.

3. Be strict with Timing
   For no reason, do not continue the session beyond an hour. Notwithstanding the fact that the discussions are so interesting, and all the group members being interested in continuing further, it should not be continued beyond an hour. When the participants know that the session can get prolonged further, they slowly start losing their interest in future sessions.

4. Homework
   After every day’s session prepare a detailed feedback note in writing:
   Mention the name of the speaker and the topic on top and,
   Write all the positive aspects noticed by all the group members.
   Write all the negative aspects noticed by the members of the group.
   The written feedback can be on all the four quarters of presentation, i.e., (i) Contents (ii) Communication (iii) Presentation skills (iv) Time management.
   Give it to the speaker for his/her benefit and improvement.
5. Reaping the benefits
   As the group moves from one speaker to the other speaker, there has to be improvement. Identify whether the next speaker has overcome the mistakes committed by the earlier speaker. By the time the last speaker speaks, it will definitely be a wonderful presentation.

“None of us is as smart as all of us”

Ken Blanchard
American Author and Motivational Speaker

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(All Copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela).