Use the Think, Pair, Share Method for Effective Group Learning
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out unwanted results? Follow these steps to improve your search results, including adding Lifehacker as your preferred source for tech news .
I strongly advise against studying with other people. Over the course of my adult life, I’ve accumulated associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, as well as a slew of certifications—and during all those years of study, group work irritated me far more often than not. Classes would devolve into chatter and venting, or someone would try to avoid taking responsibility by shifting it onto everyone else. I became the one finishing the entire project and letting everyone sign off because I simply wanted to avoid all that—but that was probably because I didn’t know the right methods to make those classes productive.
There are actually several effective techniques that can help you study in pairs or groups, but you should know them before you start working in a group , otherwise you risk being left behind. Try one of my favorite group work methods—”think, pair, share”—the next time you want to study with someone else. I wish I’d known about this in college, but you still have a chance.
What does “think, pair, share” mean?
“Think, Pair, Share” is a teaching method commonly used by teachers, but it’s easily adapted for students as well. According to Western Governors University , the method was developed by Professor Frank Lyman in 1981 and is useful for shy students because it encourages them to participate in discussions.
The title basically tells you what you need to do:
-
First you think about the subject, study it until you are sure you understand it.
-
Then you team up with someone to discuss it.
-
Finally, you share with the group what you read, understood, and did not understand.
Ideally, by studying the material together, you will help each other fill in gaps in understanding and expand on what you already know.
Make the most of TPS
These steps are overly simplified, so you need to have a plan for each one. The phrase “think about the topic” is too general. On your own, you should critically read your material using reading comprehension aids like KWL or SQ3R . These ask you to write down what you think you know, what you want to know, and what you ultimately learn, which forces you to read closely to find the answers. When using TPS, they serve a dual purpose: they provide you with questions you can ask the larger group.
When it’s time to share your experience, make a plan, too. Volunteer to structure the session, and have everyone take turns sharing their favorite insights from the material or project ideas. Pair up and use the Feynman Method , which involves explaining a concept to another person. The method is based on the idea that if you can explain an idea in enough detail to explain it simply, you’ve understood it well.
Why think, pair up, share work for study
If you’re familiar with other group learning methods, such as the Saw Method or the Feynman Method, some elements of TPS may seem familiar. In the Saw Method, each group member studies a section of a given text and then explains it to everyone else. With the Feynman Method, you explain the topic as simply as possible to someone who knows nothing about it. The difference is that in TPS, everyone in the group knows the material before the discussion, so you’re not necessarily teaching or training anyone, but rather comparing ideas.
When you share your knowledge, you give someone the opportunity to ask clarifying questions, forcing your brain to use active recall to find the answer—or returning you to the original source. Hearing someone else’s perspective can help you rethink the topic, making it even more firmly entrenched in your memory.