CREE - Create Equality in Education Banner
[deutsche CREE-Website (Alt+a)]
[english CREE-Website (Alt+b)]
[dansk CREE-Website (Alt+c)]
[espaņol CREE-Website (Alt+d)]
[http://europa.eu.int]

GERMANY - "TABLE GROUP METHOD"

1. Information on the school

» Type of school: Secondary school: Integrierte Gesamtschule (comprehensive school)

» Number of pupils: 1350         Number of teachers: 140

» Existing school policies concerning equal opportunities:

The school has an anti-discrimination policy for students and employees.

» Description of school environment

The school is situated in a part of Gottingen with equal proportions of family homes and subsidised housing. The school's catchment area extends across the entire district of Gottingen and the neighbouring districts.

2. Reasons for the activity

» Target group(s) of the activity is/are...

All pupils at the school are involved in the table group concept. There is also parental involvement.

» Who implements the activity?

The concept is implemeted by the teachers at the school and the social educational workers at the school.

» Time and duration of development of the activity:

The table group concept is an integral element of the school and since its foundation has been in place permanently from years five to ten.

» Methods and strategies in implementation

Pupils are seated in table groups of six. The emphasis is that it must be a heterogeneous group (pupils with better and weaker achievements, boys and girls). The aim is to form a group that is able to work together. Mutual help and group work exercises are important factors of table group work. Conflicts are solved with the help of teachers and social educational workers to achieve or re-establish a basis on which work is possible. A further important point is the engagement of the parents. The parents, together with pupils and teachers, are informed twice a semester about how the respective table group is developing.

3. Development of the activity

» Reasons why the concept was introduced?

The table group concept is a result of the discussion on reform in the 1970s and is based on the belief that learning in groups is more successful than individual learning.

» Aims of the activity (activities)?

It is the aim of the table group concept to provide pupils with an environment where according to their abilities, they can learn in the most effective way while being integrated into a group.

» Reasons for discrimination worked on by the activity

All types.

4. Results

» What has improved as a result of this activity?

The table group concept prevents exclusion of pupils by making them part of a small study unit. By such integration and the requirement of working together. The learning outcomes of the less able pupils are improved as well as the learning outcomes of the more talented pupils.

» Factors which facilitated or hindered the success of the activity

A first important factor towards the success of table groups is careful selection of table group members by teachers. A further factor influencing whether a table group works and is successful is how effectively confrontational situations are identified and whether appropriate intervention takes place.