What are some effective ways to establish group norms in a learning group?

1 Why group norms matter

Group norms matter because they influence how group members communicate, cooperate, and learn from each other. Group norms can foster trust, accountability, and feedback, which are essential for effective learning. Group norms can also help group members cope with diversity, ambiguity, and complexity, which are common challenges in learning situations. Group norms can also align group members with the learning goals, outcomes, and expectations of the facilitator and the organization.

2 How to involve group members

One of the key aspects of establishing group norms is to involve group members in the process. This can increase their sense of ownership, commitment, and responsibility for the norms. To involve group members, you can use various facilitation techniques, such as brainstorming, voting, ranking, or consensus-building. You can also use icebreakers, games, or activities to elicit group members' values, preferences, and concerns. You can also ask group members to share their experiences, expectations, and fears about working in a learning group.

3 How to formulate group norms

Another important aspect of establishing group norms is to formulate them in a clear, concise, and actionable way. You can use the SMART criteria to guide you in formulating group norms. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, a SMART group norm could be: "We will check in with each other every week via email or phone to share our progress and challenges." You can also use positive and affirmative language to formulate group norms, such as "We will" or "We agree to" instead of "We won't" or "We should not".

6 How to review group norms

Finally, you need to review the group norms periodically and adjust them as needed based on the changing needs, circumstances, and feedback of the group members and yourself. You can use different methods to review group norms, such as discussions, debates, or evaluations. You can also use data, evidence, or testimonials to support your arguments or suggestions for changing the group norms. You can also use criteria, standards, or benchmarks to measure the effectiveness and impact of the group norms on the learning process and results.