PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS:   Small Group Tasks

You will be working in small groups for many of the Paradigms. These types of small group activities often work best if each person in the group has an assigned responsibility or task.

Each of the tasks reflects one of the aspects of good problem-solving skills. You will get many opportunities to try all of the different tasks throughout the year. Through the discussion of concepts, you will clarify your own ideas. Teachers always learn more than students. In addition, you will learn to communicate these ideas to others--a vital skill for the workplace!

Small group activities are not a competition to see which group can get done first. If the group moves on without a member, everyone loses.

Task Master:  The responsibility of the task master is to ensure that the group completes all of the parts of the work.

"Part 1 says that we must ... . How shall we do it?"

"What you had for lunch doesn't seem relevant. Can we get back to the main question?"

Cynic:  The responsibility of the cynic is to question everything the group does and to ensure that everyone in the group understands what is going on.

"Why are we doing it this way?"

"Wouldn't it be better if we did it this other way?"

"I don't understand this part of what we are doing, let's go over it again."

Recorder:  The responsibility of the recorder is to record the group's answers.

"Do we agree that the answer to Part 3 is ... ?"

"I have written ... for Part 2. Is that what we want to say?"

Reporter:  The responsibility of the reporter is to report to the class as a whole. Since everyone in the group needs to be accountable for the material, the reporter will not be assigned at the beginning of the activity. Be prepared!

Last Update: 9/25/05

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© Department of Physics, Oregon State University, 2005.