The roles of group leader, group recorder, and group presenter are recast every two weeks - to those who have not yet performed such a role. In course evaluations, students have indicated that they feel the group activities are very valuable. Some group activities involve outside investigative work. Some group activities involve ethical issues. Some group activities are straight forward.
Students learn from one another in their discussions.
Students learn that it is much harder to listen closely to others than to speak within a group. I do not grade students on their performance within the group setting. In addition, they learn human biology. Requirements and learning activities that promote students' abilities to understand how scientists approach and solve problems in the natural sciences. Initially, students learn the history of science and the thought process of science from their required readings and by attending lectures.