Rosalind, I echo Larry's comments (since learned the format from him)
with one addition I give my team a decision problem with real world
implications. Then I ask them to make a choice and to back it up with at
least 3 fact or theories form the text, one additional psychological
theory, one cultural theory and one personal example (each individual
will have written a journal on the topic a week before).
When we fishbowl it I have them indicate their decision on the board
then we discuss the particulars. I try to get them reach a consensus but
on a couple of occasions they could not come to an agreement before the
period ended and we had been discussing it for 45-min to an hour (that's
the last time I try to solve the abortion debate :^).
Larry Michaelsen wrote:
> Rosalind,
>
> I've found that as long as I make sure that I build in the 4 S's--1) issues are Significant to students, 2) all groups are working on the Same problem or question, 3) the groups have to make a Specific choice and, 4) they report Simultaneously) almost ANY group assignment creates enough of sense of competition to create a lively class discussion. The only time that it doesn't work is when the problem is too easy and all of the groups make the same choice. Even then, however, you can usually get some pretty good discussion by exploring the different reasons for groups' choices. Also, if you omit any one of the 4 S's (e.g. groups work on different problems or don't have to choose something), the energy level of a class discussion is much lower and if you omit more than one, you have a hard time getting the groups to even pay attention to each other.
>
> Larry
>
>
> --
> Larry K. Michaelsen
> Professor of Management
> University of Central Missouri
> Dockery 400G
> Warrensburg, MO 64093
>
> [log in to unmask] <---PLEASE NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS !!!
> 660/543-4124 voice
> 660/543-8465 fax
>
>
>
>>>> "Warner, Rosalind" <[log in to unmask]> 01/13/09 3:38 PM >>>
>>>>
> Hi -
>
> I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on good application exercises that can be done between teams - I have, for example, asked teams to develop questions that can then be answered by the team next to them, etc. I would like to get some good discussion and maybe even competition going between the teams as well as team discussion within them.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Rosalind Warner
>
>
>
--
Herb Coleman,Director
Instructional Computing and Technology
Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Austin Community College
Highland Business Center
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
Austin, TX 78752
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512-223-7746
*************************************************
“I, and every other professor on this campus, are
here to help you to find, take back, and keep your
righteous mind.”
---Professor Melvin Tolson
from the motion picture "The Great Debaters"
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