This programme focuses on the use of group work in the classroom. It examines this technique as a useful means of encouraging creativity, sharing ideas and collaboration.
Group Work in D&T 1 is based on the experiences of four teachers from Queens Park Community School in north London, a typical inner-city comprehensive.
The examples of group work we see in this programme include:
- Head of textiles, Sarah Philips working with small groups to design for disability, evaluating needs and existing products
- Jayne Downs using "snowballing" in Year 7 food, arranging children into ever-expanding groups to evaluate fruit drinks
- Head of department Aubrey Muchamore, beginning work on an A6 paper dispenser with groups evaluating existing work
- Srdjan Vasic using groups with Year 9 to build a load-bearing bridge from plastic straws and masking tape
Read a review of this video on the Teacher Training Resource Bank site.
Useful websites
Pedagogy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools
Unit 10: group work
Training materials for the foundation subjects
Module 12: thinking together
