Small Group Teaching

Kaye Stacey and Gary Asp

Department of Science and Mathematics Education

University of Melbourne

Small group teaching is a strategy that is now well established in the University of Melbourne Diploma in Education course. It aims to increase the contact that student teachers have with children and schools and to provide a practical teaching task that can be used as a context for a Dip. Ed. class to study aspects of teaching such as lesson planning, student thinking and assessment. Three different uses of small group teaching are described. At the very start of the year, the experience familiarises student teachers with schools and children. Later in the year, it is used to switch the student teachers' attention from their own performances to what their pupils are learning. Excellent co-operation from schools has been forthcoming for these experiences.