Ground Rules

1). Explain the ways in which you would establish ground rules with your learners, and which underpin behaviour and respect for others.

Ground rules are set to support the smooth running of an organisation or learners.   They make sure that the setting is respectful and that every person has an opportunity to be included in the discussion.   All students require boundaries and rules within which to work.   Setting ground rules will help everyone understand their limits and if offered for discussion the learner has ownership of these ground rules. 

There are several ways to create ground rules effectively.   As a tutor, I would allow the learners to produce a list, that they feel will ensure a safer environment for discussion. The list will be written on a flip chart and displayed somewhere prominent or typed and handed out to each learner in the next lesson or put up in the classroom somewhere visible.   Before you create ground rules, explain their purpose and the reason you have chosen to create them as a group rather than simply stipulating them yourself.
 
Sometimes it is important for the tutor to implement his or her own rules which reflect the responsibility to the teaching and learning relationship. Some ground rules methods are:

Teacher/establishment imposed.

Ground rules are created by the teacher or a standard one by the establishment for all.   It is important for the teacher to explain to learners why he/she is setting those ground rules.   The teacher can establish the ground rules from previous experience. Example, having had problems with late assignments or time keeping, the teacher can set a strict ground rule that all assignments should be in by the deadline.   If there is any exception, it will be the teacher’s discretion.

Offered for discussion

The teacher will put the learners into groups of 3 or 4 and ask each group to come up realistic ground rules for the duration of the course.