From: Nancy Sohler 
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 3:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Some of my groups are "falling apart"
 
I have a class of 66 undergraduate medical students (11 groups). I am leading an epidemiology course and this is my first shot at TBL. 
 
This is mid-way through the semester and one of my groups is having difficulty. Their group learning behaviors have deteriorated over time—the group has divided into two smaller groups that cannot get along with each other.  They come into my office separately to complain (I now do not allow that), meet with each other to study outside of class separately, and don’t work together in class (at the last second they vote on which answer will be used—but they don’t discuss the issues together at all anymore).  
 
I have met with them as a group twice to address this obvious problem (that they all agree that this is a huge problem for them). I have had them discuss openly the nature of the problem and what they might do to overcome it, and helped them to brainstorm the specific strategies that they can use to learn in groups. Every intervention seems to lead to further deterioration of their group.
 
I have been told NOT to intervene too much, as this is something they need to work out on their own.  I am, however, worried that they cannot work it out.  Suggestions?

Jim Sibley

Sorry for brief message -sent from my iPad