First of all, thank you for agreeing to participate in this phase of the research. Please know that as per the consent form you have signed, you have the right to decline to answer any questions, and you may also request that I turn off the audio-recording device at any time during this interview.
This meeting has two parts:
Part 1 = A review of your peers’ responses to baseline survey on perceptions of SGW, as compared to your own x 10 questions
Part 2 = A review of your past and present perceptions about SGW learning experiences x 2 questions
Some of the questions will be using a 1-6 scale, or Agree/Disagree, or you can opt for ‘not sure’, or ‘decline’, is that okay with you?
PART 1
1. On a scale of 1-6, with 1 being not at all, 2 = occasionally, 3 = sometimes, 4 = usually, 5 = mostly and 6 being you always enjoy, how do you feel about learning in SGW activities? Please feel free to explain the reason for your rating and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers.
Response: Notes:
2. How I feel about participating in SGW depends on…….? Please select 1-2 items Please feel free to explain the reason for your choices and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers.
the curriculum area
the task we are required to do during the SGW how clear the teacher’s instructions are
how I am feeling who is in my group
how group membership is decided how long we have to work on the task Response:
3. On a scale of 1-6, with 1 being you think SGW is not at all as effective as working on your own and 6 being SGW is far more effective than working on your own, how do you feel about the effectiveness of your learning in SGW, as compared to working on your own? Please feel free to explain the reason for your rating and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers.
Response: Notes:
4. On a scale of 1-6, with 1 being SGW never helps you learn academic language and 6 being SGW always helps you learn academic language, how do you feel about use of SGW in helping you learn academic language? Please feel free to explain the reason for your rating and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers.
Response: Notes:
5. On a scale of 1-6, with 1 being SGW has never helped you with getting a higher grade in summative assessments and 6 being SGW always helps you get higher grades in summative assessments, how do you feel about the use of SGW for the teaching and learning of summative assessment tasks? Please feel free to explain the reason for your rating and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers
Response: Notes:
6. How do you think members in SGW teams should be decided? Please feel free to explain the reason for your rating and comment on how it compares to the results from your peers.
Teacher decides Students decide Random Unsure Don’t mind Other
7. I am going to read out a list of statements and I would like you to indicate whether you agree with them, or not. In your opinion, what are the most useful strategies you think teachers could use to make SGW teaching and learning more effective:
AGREE/DISAGREE/ NOT SURE/DECLINE
Giving everyone in the small group a specific role
Letting students choose who they work with and what roles they have Letting everyone make their own notes before joining a small group
Allowing small groups to work in other spaces (e.g outside of the classroom)
Allowing small groups to speak in their mother tongue
Supplying each small group with a checklist/written instructions Providing each small group with keywords/phrases
Checking in, to make sure everyone understands the task before beginning the SGW
Setting time limits
I don’t know what could make SGW more effective Other (please specify)
Response:
8. Now think about what strategies students could use during SGW to make it a more effective learning experience, for example:
AGREE/DISAGREE/NOT SURE/DECLINE
Making sure everyone in the small group has a specific role Everyone doing an equal share of the work
Having a leader Less social chatter
Getting words translated for group members if necessary Respecting each other’s opinion
Having a timekeeper
Being patient with each other Helping each other
I don’t know what could make SGW more effective Other (please specify in comments box, below) Response:
9. Any other positives of SGW that have not been covered above that you’d like to discuss?
Response:
10. Barriers or challenges of SGW that have not been covered above? Response:
PART
Thinking back to the start of this data collection period of SGW learning experiences, would you say your perceptions about the use of SGW teaching learning experiences have changed in anyway?
PAST very favourable (1) _____ ____ ____ ____ unfavourable (6) NOW very favourable (1) _____ ____ ____ ____ unfavourable (6)
Could you please give a reason for your response above?
Finally, a very big thank you for all the information you have provided above, it is very much appreciated. It is hoped that the data collected will go some way towards informing future SGW teaching and learning practices here at BIS.