Hi Lisa!
There appears to be 3 trains of thought in the post on organizing students into groups
1) use some sort of interest or pre-test
2) random selection,and/or
3) letting students put their own group together
Now - which is the best? I'm not sure there is a best, but I do encourage diversity within groups. This provides a cross-section of ideas and opinions.
Ever goes the saga of organizing groups!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
Ed016 Facilitator
3)
Hi Penelope!
I like to have students to draw names for their groups - this probably simulates more closely real life situations. You don't always have a choice of team members.
Good job!
Jaen Davis
ED106 Facilitator
By age, background, and experiences.
I rarely, if ever, allow students to select their own groups for the projects or discussions. When I have have mistakenly allowed students to select their own groups, they revert to popularity selections rather than selections that based on skill or experience.
The method that I use to place students into groups is a progressive one - one that I hope will challenge good students and students who need more help.
1) Random - I begin groups by selecting students into groups at random. I don't know what their experience level is at the beginning of class. I have an idea - a theory - but I want to see the students in action first.
2) Placement - I will assign groups, but tell the students that all my groups are at selected at random, which takes the pressure of "Why this group off of me and them." I will put outgoing students into groups with students that need motivation. This configuration will challenge both types of students.
3) Placement with Reason - By this time, I will have have figured out the skills and strengths of each of my students. I will assign them groups and tell each group that the reason they are grouped thus is that each member has a specific skill necessary to completing the project. This project has two out comes 1) the completion of the project and 2) discovery of individual strengths of the group members.
Conduct a lottery for group assignment ...
I ususally allow the students to count off and group them by numbers.
I actually have the students start by counting off numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. This is then repeated around the room (depends on the size of the class and the number of topics or exercises to be addressed). I then have all the ones, twos and so on sit in their respective groups. In this way the groups are diverse and clicks are usually broken up. Cooperative learning is a great learning strategy.
Let them choose who they want to work with as this can be a real good life lesson on being a good team player.
I generally will assign groups. I have learned that when you let them choose their own groups, they choose their friends. I assign the individuals to each group thereby diversifying the group.
I have them count off military style and then the students "magically" end up where I want them to be while giving them the feeling that they just have bad luck and never end up with thier friends. The good thing is, upon completion of the project, they all have new friends.
Typically, I have the students choose their own groups. The more motivated students usually group together and do well in lab. The less motivated students usually group together as well, however they usually don't do as well. I've found that the times I have assigned groups, there's always one in the group that doesn't do anything and I hear all about it from the other group members asking me to move him/her to another group.
I also let the students pick their own groups. Like the above repsonse stated that they already have a built relationship, they know each other's weaknesses and strengths. With this information, then there won't be any surprises for the groups, they will know what to expect from each other.
I form groups several times so students can work with different personalities.I usaually have students work with power point for an effective presntation.My first group will be based on Microsoft abilities as well experience on subjects.I try to get a good mix of different age groups.
I encourage my students to work with everyone in the class. I tell them everyday to work with someone new. If we have a group project due I always make sure to observe the class for a few days so that I can arrange the groups according to their strong points as well as their weaknesses. I try to put students in groups with other students that they may not work with as much to get them used to dealing with a variety of personalities.
If I am assigning group work, I like to change those groups so the students are not working with the same people everytime and gets them out of their comfort zone. Communication with different students sometimes makes group work even better!
I find that evening classes are a little difficult to set up learning groups because of the actual number of students that attend .
I use several methods;
1)I choose the groups
2)Student independently choose groups
3)I have the students to count off and match like numbers.
4)Sometimes I group by areas. Grouping students who are already sitting near each other.
I like the idea of counting out three times and then pairing the students in groups.I've found with students that either they want to be with friends or like someone eles mention in one of the threads someone that is reliable in the group. This somethings causes problems with one or more students not being in a group and possibly feeling left out by others. Nevertheless, great idea. I will use this one. Thanks
I have found that students tend to sit near each other in class so I make sure that I have them cound off 1-2-3-4, and split them up. It forces them to get out of their comfort zone and interact with the other students in the class.
You can assign groups for beginning students. Becaue they will chose friends they have in class and not the best choice for the task at hand. More advanced students will chose groups based on abilties to preform the task.
