Putting Students into Groups
When I put my students into groups, I usually have them draw numbers. I will take sticky notes write numbers on them, if I have 12 students in a class I will break down and have 3 groups, so I will take my sticky notes and write 1 on four, 2 on four time, and 3 on four, then I will have the students draw a number and that is the group they will be in.
Adrienne,
this can be a problem, although sometimes they have to work through those issues in professional environments as well.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have had issues of students say they cannot work with another student because of disagreements in prior classes. I have done random student grouping but I have planned the selection to where they are still separated but it doesn't look planned.
I totally agree that randomly placing students in groups seems to work the best in most situations.
I typically assign my groups. Mainly because I find that the guys want an "all male group" and some women want an "all female group" and they rarely mix it up voluntarily. I feel that it is important for my students to learn that a mixed team helps them negotiate and focus better, vs having the group become randomly all male or female where attention can easily turn away from the task on hand. Since I teach in the Physical Therapy Assistant program, it is also important for them to learn how to professionally and appropriately work and interact with the opposite sex for their manual skills. Some of my studnets have never touched another person of the opposite sex and this is a key element of treating people/patients. So they need this skill to interact.
Verna,
I think this is a good strategy as it presents students with the challenge of a randomly assigned group. This is similar to what many will face in their work environments & they will have to learn to make the best out of each situation.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
