Group Roles

In your discussion and laboratory sections for this course, you will be working in cooperative groups to solve written and experimental problems. To help you learn the material and work together effectively, each group member will be assigned a specific role. Your responsibilities for each role is defined on the chart below.
 
ACTIONS  WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE
MANAGER
  • DIRECT THE SEQUENCE OF STEPS.
  • KEEP YOUR GROUP "ON-TRACK." 
  • MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP PARTICIPATES.
  • WATCH THE TIME SPENT ON EACH STEP. 
"LET'S COME BACK TO THIS LATER IF WE HAVE TIME." 

"WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP." 

"CHRIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA?" 
RECORDER/CHECKER
  • ACT AS A SCRIBE FOR YOUR GROUP.
  • CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING OF ALL MEMBERS. 
  • MAKE SURE ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP AGREE ON PLANS AND ACTIONS.
  • MAKE SURE NAMES ARE ON GROUP PRODUCTS.
"DO WE ALL UNDERSTAND THIS DIAGRAM?"

"ARE WE IN AGREEMENT ON THIS?" 
SKEPTIC
  • HELP YOUR GROUP AVOID COMING TO AGREEMENT TOO QUICKLY.
  • MAKE SURE ALL POSSIBILITIES ARE EXPLORED.
  • SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE IDEAS.
"WHAT OTHER POSSIBILITIES ARE THERE?" 

"LET'S TRY TO LOOK AT THIS ANOTHER WAY."

"I'M NOT SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK." 
ENERGIZER/SUMMARIZER
  • ENERGIZE YOUR GROUP WHEN MOTIVATION IS LOW BY: 
    • BY SUGGESTING A NEW IDEA;
    • THROUGH HUMOR; OR 
    • BEING ENTHUSIASTIC. 
  • SUMMARIZE (RESTATE) YOUR GROUP'S DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS.
"WE CAN DO THIS!"

"THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!"

"SO HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DECIDED" 


This page was taken from the University of Minnesota Physics Education Research and Development Group website with permision.