Group work creates dynamic thinking, networking opportunities and the exchange of thoughts and opinion. It has been found that group work improves learning and retention, which is highly important when on short, intense courses such as Fundamentals of Technology Transfer.
The recent Fundamentals in Technology Transfer course saw 50 delegate, from various working backgrounds, who are relatively new to their roles or are wanting a refresher attend the course in Leeds. The course covered topics such as Patentable IP, Non-patent IP, Licensing Key Points and more valuable topics. It also included a panel discussion with highly respected professionals from leading industries and academic fields.
Group work was a recurring feature of the course. Groups were meticulously put together, making sure that each task saw a new mix of delegates and industry backgrounds. The change of groups ensured that each delegate had the chance to meet one another, hear different viewpoints and gain new ideas that would work for them in their role. The group tasks saw delegates take on new identities, work on case studies, create and perform pitches within their group and put forward questions for the panel discussion.
The majority of group work was overseen by facilitators, who were course directors and trainers. They gained a great insight into how delegates interact, their thoughts on the topics and how they came to conclusions for the tasks. The feedback gained by the facilitators is vital for the continuous improvement for future courses.
We hope that through group work and the networking opportunites the delegates made new connections and gained knowledge, which will be useful throughout their careers.
How do you feel about group work? Does it improve the networking abilities? Do you see improvements in learning and retention when working in groups?