INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY 3(2+1)

Lesson 9 : Group Methods

Group Meeting

Group meeting is a method of democratically arriving at certain, decisions by a group of people, by taking into consideration the member’s points of view.

Objectives

• To prepare a favorable climate for discussion and help in better understanding of the problem by pooling the knowledge and experience of a number of persons
• To facilitate in – depth discussion by involving a small number of participants
• To generate new ideas and methods, and select the rational ones through group interaction. To help formation of opinion about a specific issue
• To develop a favorable attitude and commitment for action through group involvement
• To act as a safety valve for reducing tension

Advantages:

• Reaches a large number of people
• Adopted to practically all lines of subject matter
• Recognizes basic urge of individuals for social contacts
• Promote personal acquaintance between extension worker and village people
• Supplements many other extension methods
• Has great news possibilities and public value
• Influences changes in practice at low cost

Limitations

• Requires understanding of group dynamics and skill of the extension agent
• Village factions may hinder successful use of this method
• Group members must have some self-discipline
• A slow process and may not be suitable in crises and emergency situation

Stages in a meeting

1. planning:

1. selection of topic
2. timing
3. selection of place
4. selection of speaker and chairman
5. advertisement and publicity and
6. physical arrangements



2. conducting the meeting:

1. programme procedure and
2. audience participation

Follow-up of meeting:(1) summaries (2) press reports (3) displays (4) other methods and (5) evaluation