ROLES IN CLASS

GOAL & METHOD

GOAL#3 COOPERATIVE LEARNING APPROACHES
METHOD#4: assigned tasks and roles

Advised Age Group

14-19 year-old

Target

ALL LEARNERS 

Subject

ALL SUBJECTS

Requires

Classes that permit group work

Length

SHORT

Introduce the rules
Introduce the rules that must be followed during group work, first of all the definition of roles: transcriber, speaker, moderator, time guard.
Defined roles apply to group work in all subjects (see activities 6, 8 and 12 for examples of group work).

Role cards discussion
Prepare role cards with brief explanations of the roles and the duties with pictures e.g. a clock for the time guard. Have a class talk to read them with all the learners.
When introducing the defined roles for the first time via class talk, learners should think and talk about who could do which role best, who could help or fit in best. Sometimes they need a little help but normally they can assess their characters quite well.

It would be useful that before the assignment of a task or topic, learners have the possibility to identify which are the most appropriate roles to accomplish, with the help of a questionnaire, according to their skills, interests, and character.

Keep the roles for the whole group work
During a single group work learners are not allowed to change roles. Throughout the year, for other group works they are allowed to change roles, in order to be fair towards each other especially when a group member can do a specific role better than other members.

Z

SUMMING UP

 

There is progress throughout the year when learners take responsibility because of their roles. The indicators of a possible rubric of assessment for this activity should comprise: organization of content; use of time; use of received information; cooperation in solving problems or conflicts; ability to work
in pairs or small groups. Greater level of individual responsibility for one’s own role will correspond to a more efficient group work as a whole.

BROWSE THE ACTIVITIES!

BROWSE THE ALL IN TEACHER KIT!