For in class assignments, I count them off by 3 and ask the 1's to work together, the 2's, and the 3's. This way the students work with someone different each class period, not just the student sitting next to them.
Greetings John!
I hope that you have read some of the posts about group organization. I encourage you to be prepared for a different way to organize - Just in case! Group work can be a real challenge especially if the group work is for a grade.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I let the students orginize their oun work groups.
Hi Charlie!
I, too, am challenged by graded group work for the same reason. More importantly, students don't like graded group work either.
How do you think that instructors/facilitators might address this challenge?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
Ed 106 Facilitator
i have mixed feelings about group activities. in the school that i am at(trade-technical)it works great if the students in the group are really wanting to learn the material. the problem i have found is that many just want to get a grade and are not all that into the class.then i end up having to diversify the groups with go getters and bums in the same groups,and the go getters do most of the work.
I have always been random and change it up! Sometimes everyone's names goes into a hat, sometimes by last names, by first names, age groups, eye color etc. Anything to keep the classroom fresh so it is not the same people all the time. I try to keep the friends apart in doing this because they have the hardest time staying on task and I felt I was always saying "let's save the personal stuff for break and lunch". Doing break ups this way, I found, decreased those incidences. Plus, students get to know each other much better then just the others name.
Sometimes we're "stuck" with certain classroom personalities (based on the subject and students that take a course).
I try to offset certain areas of expertise and personality types when organizing small groups. I just did this and was surprised when one group I expected to perform did not and the other two groups were much more focused and productive. I guess you never know if the anticipated outcome matches the expected until you try it!
Greg
I like this idea, I was trying to figure out a fair way to create groups, this will work! Thanks
Hi Cheryl!
Very good point! I do believe that this is the general consensus of other posts. If you haven't read them, you might take a moment and do that.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Truthfully, random selection of group members offers the best possible outcomes. This is particularly true of new students. If students are allowed to form their own groups they tend choose for the wrong reason and more socializing than work ensues. Random selection also simulates an actual working environment in which you may have to work with and get along with individuals you would not have otherwise chosen.
Hi Sandra!
Good job! A good way to learn for the instructor to gain more information about students as well as the students to learn more about each other. I believe both is important. When a group of people are going to be working together for an extended time a team approach is always best.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Ernestina and Sandra!
I am curious as well, Ernestina, are these groups being graded on given projects or are these groups just for general class acttivities which requires a group setting?
Thanks,
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I sometimes use a variation of that method; at the first class meeting, I use index cards but in addition to contact information, I ask students to write down a personal interest (hobbie, sport). Once I collect the cards, I "introduce" each student by reading names and stating their interest (a good way to make eye contact with each person); then at first I put the cards in several piles according to similar interests. When I've done that, I turn the piles face down to randomly make any needed adjustments in the number of students per group.
This sounds like a good idea for a class that meets several times each week. How often does your class meet?
The way I organize my students into groups is by changing the groups every Monday. This way students don't have a choice as to who they work with everytime. I tell them that out in the industry they will not have a choice, and, by changing the group each week they learn to work with all types of people.
I think random assignment works where you have students count off and 1, 2, 3 ,4 and then 1, 2, 3, 4 and the 1's make up group 1 is one approach.
This will mix up those who normally sit next to each other in class.
Another approach for 2 groups is just to divide the class down the middle and then you give them the opportunity to work with those students they are sitting with.
Both of these work--all depends on what the groups are for and the time allocated for the groups.
I've been having trouble with students dividing into teams of two amongst themselves. It is very important for them to follow this direction and i want everyone to choose who they want to partner up with, but if they cannot i am left with no choice but to assign partners. How can i make it not look like i'm the bad guy in this situation?
Another difficulty in forming student groups.... someone always ends up carrying most of the weight.... The weak will allow the strong to take the lead and carry the burden. The key is to watch for these things happening.... and nip it in the bud.
I determine how to form the grooups after I have a couple of sessions with them and understand how they interact. Sometime I choose the groups and other times I allow them to form their own. It depends on the dynamics I observe. I prefer to allow them to form their own if I believe they can form effective groups.
There are several methods of putting together groups.
1) Allow students to select their own groups
2) Select students for a group based on some criteria. For example - time zones.
3) Randomly select groups.
With online classes I do not allow students to select their own groups. I have tried this in the past and found that it took too long for students to complete this.
I tend to select groups randomly as I feel it does demonstrate the randomness of how people end up working in a business environment.
