Design Patterns for CS Education/Design Patterns/Group discussions

Group discussions

Pattern Name Group Discussions
Problem: Student’s knowledge is not shared, questioned or criticized Level (any) Semester (any) Activity type (any)
Solution: After the course content is being taught at the end of each session or beginning of the following session students are grouped into 3-4 members. A topic will be raised by the instructor about a specific course topic and ask the groups to discuss about and submit a summary of the discussion. Formation (random) Size (pairs, small) Composition (any) Duration (single class, topic based) Contribution to grade (small) Activity progression ( individual to group) Roles (any)
Rationale: The students can benefit from other group’s idea and learn about broader perspectives and communicate with all the students of the class. A sense of collaborative competition will encourage them to think more critically and in depth about the topics.
Potential Pitfalls: Designing a good and relevant topic or problem for discussion is a challenge which needs time and effort. Defining a reasonable time frame for discussion which be appropriate for the knowledge level of all students.