Development of Model to Train Group Skills for Elementary School Pupils

Abstract

This project aims at developing a model which can be used to train group skills for elementary school pupils. The project runs in three stages. The first stage takes four months to do a survey on group skills the elementary school pupils possess. This information will later on serve as basic data for developing a model. The second stage takes four more months to develop a model and group activities to train group skills. The third stage takes the remaining four months to try out the model with the six grades and to write up the handbooks. At present the task of the first stage is already completed. It was found from the survey that the group leaders in 90 classes possessed only 5 skills out of 36 skills needed for competent leaders. Those 5 skills were: the skill in presenting the report, the skill in managing time for reporting, the skill in listening to others, the skill in controlling one’s own emotion, and the skill in keeping up with one’s own duty or responsibility. On the side of the group members, they possessed 14 skills out of 24 skills on the list. The 10 skills which they lacked were: the skills in participating in planning process, giving useful opinions/information for group work, giving opinions in group discussion, encouraging others to help the group, observing group rules and agreements, finding ways to solve group problems, making conclusion and evaluating group work, improving working process, using reasoning in working and using reasoning in decision-making. At present, the project is in the second stage of the research plan. By July 1984, the model to train group skills for elementary school pupils will be completed for the tryouts.