Making Learning Real: Design Principles and Evidence for Applied Learning in Schools
Category: Student Learning
Instrument Overview
The Small Group Work Survey is a short student survey used to understand how small-group activities are working during math lessons. It is part of the broader PMR suite of practical measurement tools designed to support continuous instructional improvement, not formal evaluation. The survey is typically given at the end of a lesson where students worked in groups.
This survey captures students’ experiences with core features of effective small-group work, such as whether everyone participated, whether group members shared and built on ideas, and whether the math felt meaningful and challenging. The questions focus on what actually happened during the lesson rather than on students’ general attitudes or long-term beliefs.
Teachers and school teams use the survey for quick feedback. Responses can help identify patterns in how students are engaging with group tasks, where groups may need more structure or support, and what instructional moves might increase productive collaboration. Because it is brief and easy to administer, the survey can be used regularly to guide improvement cycles, planning conversations, and coaching.
The PMR tools, including the Small Group Work Survey, are developed and maintained by the PMR² team and are openly available under a Creative Commons license. Their core purpose is to help educators make data-informed adjustments that strengthen students’ opportunities to engage with rigorous mathematical thinking.
Organization
Topic
Collection Category(ies)
Content
Grades
6th Grade,
7th Grade,
8th Grade
Languages
English
Respondent
Student
Administration Information
Length
14 items
Qualifications
None indicated
Access and Use
Developer
Practical Measures Routines and Representations
Price
Free
Contact
Open Access
Yes
Psychometrics (additional guidance)
Psychometric References
Jackson, K., Cobb, P., Ing, M., Ahn, J., Smith, T., Kochmanski, N., ... & Nieman, H. (2025). Developing and using practical measures to inform instructional improvement in mathematics at scale.
Item Type
Multiple choice
