Eu estava fazendo uma busca e encontrei esse material aqui.... ele fala
sobre grupos de estudo, muito interessante.... o que está abaixo é apenas um
pedaço do que está no site.
What Is A Study Group?
Over the course of my school days and professional years I've come to
recognize and appreciate the study group as one of the best instruments for
improving one's understanding of anything complex or profound.
The summer before my first year of college, I was required to read
Homer's Illiad for a freshman seminar. I was hiking that summer and
would read Homer by flashlight before I went to bed each night. When I had
finally finished the epic tale of Achilles, I remember that I was not all
that impressed: I essentially considered the book to be a war novel.
When school started, I attended my first seminar on a warm evening in
August . The seminar room had high ceilings and many windows and contained a
long wooden table, surrounded by wooden chairs, with a chair at either end
of the table for the two "tutors". One tutor was charged with asking the
opening question.
This question took several minutes to ask, but when the tutor had
finished, I knew that I had only touched the surface of the Iliad.
The opening question pointed to a more profound and sophisticated level
of meaning and over the course of that evening, our group endeavored to
answer that opening question. In searching for an answer, we questioned our
original ideas, questioned the ideas of our peers, and ultimately worked to
understand the Illiad on a deeper level. By the end of the two-hour
seminar that evening, we learned far more than we had in our individual
readings.
Definition of a Study Group
What I call a "study group" is inspired by the classical method of
seminars conducted at schools like Oxford
and St John's College.
A study group is a collection of individuals who gather together
regularly to improve their understanding of some non-trivial subject, such
as a body of great literature, by participating in a focused discussion.
Individuals meet around a table or in a circle for 1 to 2 hours, and
group size varies from 3 to as many as 16 inidividuals. Group size is
limited by space or table size and whether folks can see and hear one
another during discussion.
The study group organizes and maintains an agenda of readings. Prior to
each meeting, participants have read and reflected upon the reading and may
come prepared with questions, ideas about, or explanations of the reading.
One individual, who is sometimes called the "moderator," asks the opening
question at the commencement of each meeting. This individual is charged
with guiding the dialogue during the rest of the meeting, but this
individual is not a teacher. He or she is simply considered to be the
most advanced student with respect to a reading. If an individual is more
advanced than others in the group, it makes sense for that individual to
perform the role of moderator for several meetings until others feel
comfortable in that role. Should a debate get out of hand or a dialogue
stray or lag, the moderator will help refocus the discussion, often asking
if the opening question has been answered or stepping in to make sure that
statements are properly validated. Some further thoughts on opening
questions and sample opening questions may be found
below.
Study groups work best in quiet, aesthetic places that invite reflection:
a centrally located cafe, a room with a magnificient view, or some nook or
corner of a hotel or lodge.
The Design
Patterns Study Group of NYC has found that an architectually rich
environment is well suited to the study of design patterns. The group has
declined numerous invitations to use uniformly illuminated corporate
locations, but has instead continued to congregate at a spacious and
soothing SoHo gallery/espresso bar that exemplifies Christopher
Alexander's Sitting Circle (185), Different Chairs (251)
and Pools Of Light (252) patterns (see Alexander's A
Pattern Language).
Study Groups vs. Lectures
It is important to note the differences between study groups and
lectures, since the vast majority of software groups (SIGs - Special
Interest Groups) currently use the lecture format. This paper argues that
the study group is a superior forum for learning.
A study group, as we've defined it above, is quite different in form and
purpose from a lecture. While there is nothing wrong with lectures, they
have a tendency to create passive learning experiences for attendees. If one
is interested in simply gathering information, a lecture may be a fine place
to do it. But if one really wants to understand something (to "get your
hands dirty"), there is nothing like a study group.
While attendees of a lecture may seek information, attendees of a study
group seek transformation; they want to make what they study not only
something they understand, but something they may use in their
everyday lives or work. The study group thus acts as a bridge, helping
people move from passive to active learning.
While "experts" are often asked to give lectures, study groups prefer to
invite experts to participate in a group, to ask opening questions
and be an active member in a dialogue. The focus here is always on great
literature, be it an important paper, article, or book. The group's dialogue
revolves around getting to a better understanding of the issues.
