Ian Zhi Wen CHAN
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science

Chan, I. Z. W. (2024, August 28). Should we encourage diversity of opinions in group work? [Audio podcast episode]. Teaching Connections. https://blog.nus.edu.sg/teachingconnections/2024/08/28/should-we-encourage-diversity-of-opinions-in-group-work/

 

In this episode, Ian takes us through his teaching-related experience of encouraging diversity of opinions during group work learning activities in his course. He presents excerpts of these scenarios. the challenges students face during group work, and talks about the change he applied to the group formation process which enhanced communication-centric learning outcomes in his classroom.  

This podcast is a further reflection of a study Ian shared during HECC 2023 under the sub-theme “Communities and Education”. 

 

6Min 58SEC | FULL TRANSCRIPT | LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

Highlights from the podcast include the following:

• Challenges of applying group work in educational settings, from the educators’ and students’ perspectives (01:17)
• Recognising that educators have a significant influence over how group work is applied in the classroom, particularly how such groups are formed (03:12)
• Applying the change in the group formation process and observing the extent to which it enhanced the course learning outcomes (04:09)
• Ian reflects on key lessons learnt from applying this change and what he would refine in future iterations of the course (06:04)

 

Ian Zhi Wen CHAN is a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Science, where he has unexpectedly become the “Statistics guy” in ecology. He also teaches conservation, an extension of his PhD on animal behaviour. With three kids, Ian is passionate about inspiring the next generation to “Do justly, Love mercy and Walk humbly” for a better world. Ian can be reached at ianchan@nus.edu.sg.