In recent decades, many researchers have studied the importance of group-level cognition. Indeed, to my mind, there is no convincing evidence that group activities improve the intelligence of individuals. In this essay, I shall examine how research in team games and study groups supports this view.
To begin with, team games require individuals to perform a diverse range of rapid mental calculations. This is because, in a sporting context, players must predict and anticipate possible actions within tight time constraints.
For example, a recent Cambridge study showed that soccer players can – within seconds – calculate over a dozen different permutations that could result from a single soccer-related action. Such predictive powers improve players' mental abilities and result from activities performed in a group context.
Secondly, study groups enable individuals to obtain information that they could not acquire in isolation. This is because peer feedback allows individuals to refine their understanding of concepts and to also learn new information from other members of the study group.
For example, A study by The British Institute for Learning found that, if individuals participated in study groups, they had a far more objective and sophisticated understanding of a topic than learners who were not part of study groups. Therefore, it is certainly the case that learning in a group improves an individual’s mental abilities.
In conclusion, I strongly agree with the notion that group activities improve intellectual abilities. In the future, we will certainly see schools take greater measures to ensure that more group-level cognition occurs in the classroom.
In recent decades,
many
researchers have studied the importance of group-level cognition.
Indeed
, to my mind, there is no convincing evidence that
group
activities
improve
the intelligence of
individuals
. In this essay, I shall examine how research in team games and
study
groups
supports this view.
To
begin
with, team games require
individuals
to perform a diverse range of rapid mental calculations. This is
because
, in a sporting context, players
must
predict and anticipate possible actions within tight time constraints.
For example
, a recent Cambridge
study
showed
that soccer players can
–
within seconds
–
calculate over a dozen
different
permutations that could result from a single soccer-related action. Such predictive powers
improve
players' mental abilities and result from activities performed in a
group
context.
Secondly
,
study
groups
enable
individuals
to obtain information that they could not acquire in isolation. This is
because
peer feedback
allows
individuals
to refine their understanding of concepts and to
also
learn new information from other members of the
study
group.
For example
, A
study
by The British Institute for Learning
found
that, if
individuals
participated in
study
groups
, they had a far more objective and sophisticated understanding of a topic than learners who were not part of
study
groups
.
Therefore
, it is
certainly
the case that learning in a
group
improves
an
individual’s
mental abilities.
In conclusion
, I
strongly
agree
with the notion that
group
activities
improve
intellectual abilities. In the future, we will
certainly
see
schools take greater measures to ensure that more group-level cognition occurs in the classroom.