How to: Get the Most Out of Small Groups

Alongside your courses, one of the key components of our online programs is meeting with your small groups! Each term, you will be assigned a new small group for each course you are enrolled in. These student-led meetings are a time for you to process the lecture and reading content in community with others through questions and prompts given by your professor. We also hope that students use these groups as a time to fellowship with one another as they complete the program together!

Where can I find who is in my small group? 

You can find your small group assignment for each course in Canvas listed under the Groups tab. 

 


Here is a brief overview of how small groups will work.

Logistics

  • You will be assigned to one small group per course, with 2-3 other students. The day before courses begin, you can see who your fellow small group members are using the "Groups" tab in Canvas. 
  • From there, small groups are fully-student led. Its best to send your small group members a message, usually done on Workplace, to begin the conversation, introduce yourself, and begin finding a time that works for you to meet.
  • You will use Zoom to conduct your small groups. This is a great video platform where multiple members can join, screens can be shared, and conversation can thrive! Your group will have a private Zoom link to use for your meetings.
  • You can use tools like Doodle to easily find when the best time is for your group to meet!
  • Each course has 4 required small group meetings.

Preparing

  • At least one week before your small group questions are due, your professor will post a list of questions for you and your group to discuss. You can find these in Canvas.
  • To prepare for your small group, arrive to the meeting having listened to relevant lectures, engaged with relevant readings, and have given thought to the questions being asked by your professor. 
  • If you have remaining questions about course material, come prepared to talk with your small group about those.

Meeting with your group

  • Use headphones to prevent feedback between your computer microphone and speakers.
  • Mute yourself when you are not speaking to prevent background noise from interfering with your group discussion.
  • Choose a quiet, well-lit space to prevent distractions and help your classmates see and hear you clearly.
  • During your first meeting, spend some time getting to know one another! These groups are not merely academic and are for your personal growth just as much for your learning.
  • Assign one person from your group will act as facilitator (rotate the role if you like!). This person's role is to help ensure that everyone in the group has been heard, that the group covers the posted questions, and keeps track of the time (most small groups last about 60 minutes).
  • As you meet with your small group, work through the questions your professor has provided, while also taking note of your own take-aways or questions you might like to ask your professor. Of course, you can help your classmates answer their questions as well. 
  • The more you are willing to participate, even if you don't have all the right answers, the better your small group can be! Students underestimate the helpfulness of even simple comments/observations. What you share is an important part of the learning process of others, so engage in the conversation!
  • At the end of the meeting, take a few minutes to reflect on the conversation and jot down something you learned, an insight, a question, or conundrum, and submit this as your take-away in your attendance quiz to get credit for this assignment.

After your small group

  • Pray for your classmates. 
  • Plan your next time to meet!
  • Your professor will post a video on Workplace answering questions from the class. Take a look at the video in Workplace and provide any additional questions or insights you have.

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