Earlier in this lesson there was a suggestion on using pre tests to determine the knowledge base in a class. Using the pre test scores to help in forming groups is an effective way to make sure you end up with balanced groups.
This is the way I do it as well. This will tend to break up some of the small cliques and give the students a chance to work with someone new.
Whenever I do a group project for a graded component of the course, I always include a student evaluation form so that they can evaluate the other members of the group both on the components of the project and how they work together as a group. They consistantly give themselves and each other perfect scores. I was interested to read in this unit that the authors found students graded each other honestly. What has anyone else experienced? Do you see honest and accurate evals or do you see perfect scores?
Ahh the eternal question. I think you run into challenges no matter what method you use when the students have been with each other in a class before. If you split them up randomly they resist and find any excuse to blame their failures on. If you let them choose groups they will usually form very strong groups and very weak groups because the motivated and the strugglers seem to attract each other. Does anyone have any experience on which scenario is best for the student?
I like to split up friends, because then they will cluster together. This is de-motivating for those in the group who are not part of the clique. I will have the students count off - 1, 2, 3 and so on, and then all the 1's will be in one group, all the 2's in another, etc. This creates a good mix of students, with very different backgrounds and points of view. I also like to keep the groups small, to around 4 or 5 students, so everyone gets a chance to participate.
Students should have the opportunity to engage in a group that ehy otherwise would not have, leave their comfort zone to experience diversity.
Many students gather in clicks or have some knowledge of each other before day one. This is the easiest, but not necessairly the best option. the ability to communicte without the security of knowing someone builds character and leadership skills and can open a greater sense of diversity.
