Shotgunning or Collaborative Learning
(This article ties in with: Study Group Techniques, page 177 ;
Chapter 5)
Shotgunning gets its name from the image of the difference between
a single shot and a shotgun blast that effectively covers a large
amount of territory (i.e., material to be learned) in an intense,
relatively short, period of time. If taken seriously and used well,
this strategy can be extremely effective. Shotgunning can be
performed with any kind of reading/studying situation!
Rationale: All learning is social. Why not share the load of huge
reading assignments? It is a myth that the best students study alone!
Group learning:
- alleviates boredom
- enables participants to reach a more satisfactory consensus
- heightens responsibility for learning
- eases the burden of working alone
- results in solid sample tests to try
Steps in the process:
1. Target all the sources of information (notes, texts, handouts,
articles) that pertain to the learning task(s).
2. In a group of two to five, all members preview sources and suggest
ways to divide up responsibility for sections. The divisions should
be by relationship of topics, not by arbitrary numbers of pages.
Therefore, some members may have more material to cover.
3. Agree on who will become the expert on what part(s) of the
material.
4. Agree on time limits for individual work and when and where to
reconvene the group.
5. As the group comes back together to share their expertise, members
agree on format for sharing:
- Will each discuss his/her part while others take notes/ ask
questions?
- Will members photocopy their expert notes for group members?
What about both?
6. Group should then predict the most challenging possible test
questions and then try a mock exam.
7. Then what? Brainstorm what other strategies the group or
individuals should use for further review.
REMEMBER: Responsibility heightens learning. Anytime you teach
something to another person you heighten and deepen your own
understanding of the material. Why is this true?!
NOW THINK OF WAYS YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN SHOTGUN YOUR WAY
THROUGH YOUR CLASSES!
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