GROUP INVESTIGATION METHOD

GROUP INVESTIGATION METHOD

Definition of Group Investigation Method

Robert E. Slavin stated that Group Investigation as follow;  “Group Investigation is a form of cooperative learning that dates back to John Dewey, but has been refined and researched in more recent years by Shlomo and Yael Sharan and Rachel Herts-Lazarowitz in Israel.”13

Group Investigation which developed by Shlomo and Yael Sharan at Tel Aviv University, is planning of common class setting  where the students work in small group using cooperative question, group discussion, and planning and project cooperative.

Roy Killen said that Group Investigation is one of cooperative learning method which focused on student’s participation and activity. The teacher who use this method firstly he/she divides the class into small heterogeneous groups. This group consists of two to six and may form around friendships or around an interest in a particular topic.

Students select topics for study, then every group decides what subtopics are to be investigated as well as the goals of their study, and then prepare and present a report in front of class.15 This type demands to the student’s abilities of communication or the group skill. Group  Investigation model exercises the students to grow up their brain skill. The students as the followers actively will show from the first step until the last step of the learning process.

According to Robert E. Slavin important for Group Investigation is students’ cooperative planning of their inquiry. Group members take part in planning the various dimensions and requirements of their project. Together they determine what they want to investigate in order to solve their problem; which resources they require; who will do what; and how they will present their completed project to the class.

Presentation technique is done in front of class with several of presentation forms, while other group shift wait to presentation, to evaluate and give response from the topic presentation. The teacher’s role in conducting a Group Investigation project the teacher serves as a resource person and facilitator.  He or she circulates among the groups, sees that they are managing their work, and helps out with any  difficulties they encounter in group interaction and the performance of  the specific tasks related to the learning project. 

The Steps of Group Investigation Method

 In Group Investigation, pupils progress through six steps. The steps of using Group Investigation (GI) as follow;

1) Topic Selection

Students choose specific subtopics within a general problem area, usually described by the teacher. Students are placed into small two-to six member task oriented groups. Group composition is academically and ethnically heterogeneous.

2) Cooperative Planning

Students in each group and the teacher plans specific learning procedures, tasks and goals consistent with the subtopics of the problem selected in step 1 (first).

3) Implementation

Each group gathers information, review the subtopic, analyze or evaluate it, and reach some conclusions. Kinds of sources of information can be obtained both inside and outside the school. 

4) Analysis and Synthesis

Students analyze and evaluate information obtained during step 3 (third) and must prepare a summary activity. It may be in form of report, a briefing, etc., for the entire class.

5) Presentation of Final Project Each group in the class give an interesting presentation of the topics studied in order to get classmates involved in one another’s work and to achieve a broad perspective on the topic. Group presentations are coordinated by the teacher.

6) Evaluation

In cases where groups followed different aspects f the same topic, students and the teacher evaluate each group’s contribution to the work of the class as a whole. Evaluation can include either individual or group assessment or both.

Group Investigation Method and Teaching Reading Ability

In this group investigation method there are 3 concepts: enquiry, knowledge, and the dynamic of the learning group. The research here is the dynamic of the learning group. The students give the responses the problems and solve it. The knowledge is the learning experience that has been founded directly or indirectly. And the dynamic of the learning group that shows describing a group of student which has a good interaction and share about their ideas,  exchange their experiences, in their opinions. Thing have to do in Group Investigation are:

1) Grow up the group ability 

When they do their homework, every member of group has  their own opportunity to show their contribution. In the research, the student will find the information from the inside or outside class. Then, the students collect the information from every member of the group to do the task.

2) Cooperative Planning

All of the students have an investigation for their problem. Which one of the sources is needed, who want to do it and how to presented their project in the Class.

3) The Teachers Roles

The teachers will prepare the source and facilitators. The teachers role their rule among the students groups and they pay their attention to also organize the students job and help the students to organize their job and help them when they get the trouble of the learning process in their group.

In teaching reading ability can be done with activity of teaching reading aloud, silent reading, reading comprehension andindependent reading.  All of them have own advantage for students in junior high school. Reading aloud will help students to prepare for study in an English speaking country. Then, silent reading will help students in learning how to read with purpose. Reading comprehension will help students understanding written the text and can enlarge students’ English vocabulary, because reading comprehension related with word recognition and comprehension of text. While, independent reading is one of the best ways for junior high school students to add new words to their vocabulary, because independent reading depend on their independent consumption and enjoyment.

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