Focus/learning groups
I use focus/learning groups a lot in my classes, because it helps in the overall learning experience. Additionally, I found that keeping them in the same group for the entire term is the best approach. They have the opportunity to learn from other by learning about one another. But I also found that some students just hate this approach, and these seem to be the engineering students. The thing is this - what job does one really work all alone with no contact with anyone else.
I stuggle the most with assigning groups & keeping the students in the same group. I know it was difficult for me as a student & I feel their pain. However, I do know that it works & most often students can assist each other in understanding material better than I can. I really need to push myself to set arranged groups more often.
I can not think of any jobs where people work alone with no contact with anyone else. Even business owners have to deal with others. So, it is safe to say that most all people have to work with others.
My classes are only 3 weeks in duration. Sometimes the students have been together for the prior 3 week period and sometimes this is their very first class. We have 2 learning group projects using PowerPoint presentations, so I have found that making sure that 1 member of each team has PPT experience. From there, I let the members migrate to the PPT "leader". It has worked fiarly well and most teams end up quite diverse in age, culture, experience, etc.
This may sound silly, but I've had very good luck with forming groups by drawing bits of numbered paper! Students think the drawing is entertaining, but they also see that the whole group formation is entirely random. No one can say anything about it being "unfair."
Dr. Kendra Gaines
Anne, good question. I do it randomly as they come into the class. I have Focus Group paper name plates set out, and as they come into the class room I send them to one group or the other. I have also done it via the class roster. But no matter what the approach, it is all done randomly. I hope this has helped some.
Bernard,
When you divide your class into focus/learning groups, how do you put them in groups? Do you divide them by ability, randomly, etc. I would love to know what other teachers do as well.
Anne
