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Time Out Reflection Cycle

You are doing group work and notice that things are not going well. Perhaps students are off task, apathetic, or over enthusiastic. What should you do? Whose responsibility is it to come up with a strategy?

Tribes: a new way of learning together by Jeanne Gibbs suggests using a 'time out'. In the time out it is everyone's responsibility to reflect on what has been happening and to devise strategies for improvement. The following steps are recommended...

  1. Stop the action-Ask "What's happening?'

  2. Give everyone time to reflect-don't start diagnosing the situation yourself Wait until people begin to speak up.

  3. Ask for descriptions of specific sounds and actions.

  4. Ask how people felt and how the behaviour or situation affects the class as a whole.

  5. Invite or brainstorm ideas to change the situation.

  6. Have everyone decide what to do to improve things.

 

Source: Gibbs, J. (1994) Tribes: A New Way of Learning Together California: Center Source Publications

 

 
 
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