Group Learning.
When teaching I employ many instructional strategies. I think that since each person is unique, we must diversify our courses as much as possible. While I was a prison educator classes ran for 5 hours a day: 2 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon. As a result, it was imperative to incorporate different instructional strategies due to long, undivided periods of time. Some examples of strategies I used are: small and large group discussions, collaborative learning activities, games, creative writing, art, and drama.
Although most students in academic study were working on different subjects and levels, I tried to make time each day for a group activity that incorporated some of the above strategies and allowed students to think and communicate in different ways. The purpose of these group learning and dialogues were to allow students to learn about the world, see and understand alternative viewpoints, spur discussion, and use knowledge in different ways. Often the subject matter they were studying was applicable to the group activity. Group projects included discussion, problem-solving, consensus building, debate, creative writing, art and applications of mathematics.
The following are some topics we explored:
Although most students in academic study were working on different subjects and levels, I tried to make time each day for a group activity that incorporated some of the above strategies and allowed students to think and communicate in different ways. The purpose of these group learning and dialogues were to allow students to learn about the world, see and understand alternative viewpoints, spur discussion, and use knowledge in different ways. Often the subject matter they were studying was applicable to the group activity. Group projects included discussion, problem-solving, consensus building, debate, creative writing, art and applications of mathematics.
The following are some topics we explored:
- Work-for-welfare programs
- Canada’s refugee policy
- Long gun registry
- Stories of homelessness
- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Civilization – What does it mean to be civilized?
- Global and local poverty
- Happiness
- Isreali-Palestinian conflict
- Medical triage practices