2. Fixing priorities…..Group activity
LOST IN THE MOON :
You are a member of a team of astronauts who have just
landed on the moon. Unfortunately you have missed your
target landing spot by nearly 100kms and you are lost on
the darker side of the moon.
Your task is to decide which of the following items are
necessary for your survival. For each item listed, give a
priority number—The highest priority being 1 and lowest
being 11

3. Group Activity
 Group 1 & 2 will perform the activity.
 Group 3, 4, 5 & 6 will observe with checklist
silently with no discussion amongst them.
 Activity doers will write individual choices first
& then the group choices……10 minutes
 Doers will share their decisions ….10 minutes
 Observers will share their experiences…10mins
 PPT on group dynamics…….15 mins

4. ITEMS YOUR PRIORITY NO GROUP PRIORITY NO
A 1 KNIFE
B A PACK OF MATCHES
C 50 METRES OF ROPE
D A 5 KG PACKET OF DRY
FOOD
E A COMPASS
F A MAP OF MOON’S CRATERS
G A 5 GALLONS WATER BOTTLE
H 1 PISTOL
I 1 SHORTWAVE RADIO
J 1 TORCH OR FLASH LIGHT
K TWO 50KG TANKS OF OXYGEN

5. GROUP LEARNING & GROUP DYNAMICS

6. Objectives
 Understand & apply concepts of Group
Dynamics.
 Use of group dynamics in team based
functioning in teaching & learning.

7. Large group
 Group learning
Small group

8. “Without discussion , intellectual experience is only
exercise in a private gymnasium”
Randolph Bourne

9. What is Group Dynamics?
 KURT LEWIN, a sociologist in 1940 coined this
term
 Group dynamics are dynamic processes within the
group which influence and interact with each other.
They include norms, roles, relations, development
and effects of behaviour.
 Group members can share experiences, provide
feedback, pool ideas, generate insights & provide
opportunities for analysis of experiences.

10. Group , Team & Crowd
 Crowd :- A collection of people with a short-term
common interest and without set goals .
For e.g. a collection of people watching a cricket match
 Group:- A collection of individuals with common
interests & shared goals For e.g. Teachers attending a
MEU workshop.
 Team:- A collection of individuals who are expert in
their field & have complementary abilities. For e.g.
a cricket team / MEU faculty conducting a rBCW

11. 7 characteristics of Group Dynamics
are….
 Shared purpose,
 Trust & openness,
 Willingness to correct mistakes,
 Diversity & inclusion ,
 Interdependence & sense of belonging,
 Consensus decision making ,
 Participative leadership.

12. Important roles of working
in a team or a group
LEADER
RECORDER
TIME KEEPER
INFORMATION SEEKER
ENCOURAGER
COMPROMISER &
STANDARD SETTER

13. 5 stages of Group
Formation
Tuckman

14. FORMING
 Initial stage of development
 Difference of ideas & uncertainty of purpose.
 Members look for a Group leader.
 Communication limited and desire for acceptance
by the group.
*Members attempt to become oriented to the tasks as
well as to one another (Clarity of roles)
* Serious topics and feelings avoided.
* Encourage participation by all

15. STORMING
 As group gets to organize , dysfunctional behaviors
come up.
 Concern over leadership issues(who will do?)
 Intra group conflicts( what to do?) & arguments about
working procedure( how to do?)
 Superiority issues ( ego clash, some are silent, some are
dominating) & there is danger of breaking down.
* Individuals have to bend and mould their feelings,
ideas, attitudes & beliefs to suit the group
organization.

16. NORMING
 Group members move from a “testing & proving”
mentality in the previous stage to a problem-solving
mentality.
 Shared vision , clear tasks and common purpose
 Implicit issues are uncovered.
 Interpersonal relations are characterized by cohesion
wherein data flows with sharing of ideas & feedback
* Communication is leader centric and works unitedly
leaving aside their preconceived ideas and opinions.

17. PERFORMING
 This stage is not reached by all groups but if group
members are able to evolve to this stage, then their
capacity , range, and depth of personal relations
expand to true interdependence.
 Highly task oriented & people’s roles may
dynamically adjust to the changing needs of the
group.
 Group identity is complete, group morality is high
and group loyalty is intense. Positive reinforcement.

18. ADJOURNING
 Final stage which involves the termination of task
behaviors and disengagement from relationships.
 Regressive movement from giving up control to giving
up inclusion in the group create a minor crisis.
 A planned conclusion usually includes recognition for
participation and an opportunity for members to say
personal goodbyes.

19. TEAM BASED FUNCTIONING
IN TEACHING & LEARNING
 It is important to know role of Group Dynamics in
medical education.

20. Firstly,
We will be mostly involved in handling groups
of students in small group discussions (SGD),
small group tutorials(SGT), practical classes,
demonstrations etc.
If we cannot manage them, we may fail to take full
advantage of the group’s potential or groups may
break also.

21. Secondly,
We, medical teachers are also members of many
formal & informal groups like
 Medical Education Unit,
 Curriculum Committee,
 Curriculum Sub-Committee,
 Academic Committee,
 Teacher's Association etc.

22. Thirdly,
Students will be watched by us for various group
roles like leader, recorder, time keeper, information
seeker, encourager, compromiser & standard setter
etc. so that the groups are managed well.
Also we will lookout for the signs of poor group
dynamics.

23. Fourthly,
Focus on communication ( open communication)
is central to good team dynamics like emails, shared
documents & meetings to avoid ambiguity.

24. Group Managing Strategies by the teacher
Ensure that equal participation is important not
only to maintain group dynamics but also to
ensure that all students participate in the process
actively. Merely listening to the discussion is not
enough for optimal learning.
Keep a watch over various group roles &
responsibilities for better management of the group.

25. Managing Strategies…..
Watch for causes of lack of participation by the
students say,
 not being able to identify the goal,
 feeling of insecurity,
 dominance in some students,
 lack of adequate preparation.
These all need to be addressed appropriately.

26. Some students may outsmart others or brighter
students may overshadow others & prevent shy ones
from voicing their opinion. Address them with
specific questions for them to open up.
Teachers should never be impatient because that
decreases student participation. Give them time.
Breakdown barriers or combat with the black sheep
effect where all turn against one considered different

27. Group with positive dynamics
 Group works well together
 Easy to spot
 Team members trust one another
 Work towards a collective decision
 Hold one another accountable for making
things happen
 Are constructive & productive
 Demonstrate mutual understanding & self
corrected behavior.

28. Group with poor dynamics
 Effectiveness reduced & makes wrong choices
because they could not explore options effectively.
 There is dysfunctional behaviors like
Weak leadership,
Aggressor & blocker,
Recognition seeker,
Mr. know all, cynic,
 Poor time management etc.

29. Examples of poor dynamics
 One person in the group is very critical & cynical of his
colleagues ideas ….discouraging others from speaking
up
 Someone hardly participates or contributes to the
sessions …..when asked for his opinion, he agrees with
a dominant colleague.
 One group member makes humorous comments at
unhelpful times and upsets the momentum of the
discussion (JOKER HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT)

30. The group dynamics can bring synergy or tear things
apart.
Margaret Bau

31. Is this good dynamics ?