Routledge Learning in Groups: A Handbook for Face-to-Face and Online Environments

Learning in groups, rather than in formal lectures or presentations, allows students to have greater scope to negotiate meaning and express themselves and their own ideas. It also helps them to establish far more effective releationships, not only with their tutors and trainers but with each other. Yet many tutors and trainers find the leadership role required when working in groups difficult to perform satisfactorily and revert to their traditional role as subject expert and prime talker. This handbook is a truly comprehensive guide for anyone involved in groupwork, containing advice and practical exercises to develop group learning skills for both learners and tutors. This new edition has been thoroughly updated, containing valuable new material throughout on group learning and collaborating online, action research and the role of reflection and emotional intelligence. Review 'This is a truly excellent book. With a solid theoretical underpinning, it is wide-ranging, accessible, practical and, above all, useful...Whatever your role, if you want to enable groups to function and learn well, read and use this book!' - Bob Rotheram, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK 'What a great book! One of the all-time great writers on small group work joins forces with the queen of online learning. This book is readable, theoretically rigorous, practical, and excellently presented.' - Trish Greenhalgh, University College London, UK 'The book progresses well from the theoretical underpinning of group behaviour to assessment within groups and pratcial check lists for leaders. The online learning points are well integrated and not viewed as add-ons. In its general framework, the book is extremely coherent with excellent use of bullet points, diagrams, tables and shading to encourage clarity of thought.' - British Journal of Educational Technology This is a truly excellent book. With a solid theoretical underpinning, it is wide-ranging, accessible, practical and, above all, useful. Some of the material is mature and well-tried, familiar from when I was learning to be a groupworker. But there is content for the 21st century too, especially in the area of online learning. Here, Gilly Salmon draws on her expertise with ‘e-moderating’ and ‘e-tivities’, serving up a rich diet for anyone wanting to move (further) into offering blended learning. A huge number of ideas are provided, and a chapter of ten case studies shows how others ‘did it’ in a wide variety of settings. Whatever your role, if you want to enable groups to function and learn well, read and use this book! Bob Rotheram National Teaching Fellow, Reader in Assessment, Learning and Teaching Leeds Metropolitan University What a great book! One of the all-time great writers on small group work joins forces with the queen of online learning. This book is readable, theoretically rigorous, practical, and excellently presented. Trish Greenhalgh Trish GreenhalghProfessor of Primary Health CareUniversity College London "Learning in groups" is both readable and practical. Concepts are clearly explained, illustrated and backed up by research studies and years of experience. I found myself saying "Yes, I totally agree!" on almost every page, and making a note to recommend several chapters to colleagues. Exploration of the subtle and significant differences that arise with online approaches is included where relevant and encourages considered thought. In preparation for running a communication skills workshop, I found helpful tips and guidance for creating an effective and "safe" learning environment. As I put a seminar together on small group learning for lecturers, I wanted to condense the book into a single slide. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone wanting to get the most out of groups and their learning. Kim Whittlestone, Senior Lecturer in Independent Learning, LIVE Centre, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield I encountered the first edition of this