Groupwork with Computers in British Primary Schools

Abstract

In British primary schools, it is unusual to find more than one computer in a classroom. As a result, children are assigned to small groups to use the computer. This research reported here sought to explore the characteristics of groupwork with computers and to provide guidance to teachers on computer use issues. This paper summarizes work from the Sussex component of a three-year project involving London and Sussex Universities and 12 schools in six districts. The children observed in the study were between 8 and 12 years of age. The software used in the classrooms included LOGO (Mathematics), Lego LOGO (Control Technology), databases (for Social Studies Topics), and DEVELOPING TRAY (a language program using a cloze procedure format). Data for the case studies were gathered by observation, interviews, questionnaires, school records, and, in some cases, tests of pupil performance. This paper reports on the following selected topics from the research: group processes, including pupil roles, decision making, turn-taking, participation, fairness, conflict, and collaboration; ability factors; optimum size of group; personality factors; teacher approaches to group composition; and emerging policy issues. (Contains 23 references.) (JLB)