Table of Contents
- 1 Should you let students pick their own groups?
- 2 How do you decide which students should work together in groups?
- 3 What makes a good group project?
- 4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of group work?
- 5 How do I choose a class representative?
- 6 Are self-selected groups more effective in the classroom?
- 7 Should you use assigned groups in the classroom?
Should you let students pick their own groups?
Students are generally happy because they get to work with their friends and appreciate being able to control who is in their group. Letting students select their own group members gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their decision-making skills and to solve problems on their own. …
How do you decide which students should work together in groups?
Decide how to configure groups
- Size. Small groups tend to work efficiently because it is easier to coordinate efforts and schedules among fewer people.
- Roles.
- Prior knowledge, previous experiences, and skills.
- Motivation.
- Diversity of perspectives.
- Students’ familiarity with each other.
- Personality.
What makes a good group project?
The most critical element to a successful group project is each member recognizing their responsibility to the group. Achieving an excellent grade is a reflection of everyone completing their assigned tasks, consistently communicating with the group, and actively collaborating with others.
How students should choose their leaders?
A good rule of thumb is to have your students choose one student leader for every eight to 10 members in a section. If there are five nominees for three positions, students should give each nominee a score—three points for a student’s first choice, two points for the second, and one point for the third.
Are group projects effective?
If structured well, group projects can promote important intellectual and social skills and help to prepare students for a work world in which teamwork and collaboration are increasingly the norm.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of group work?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in a Group:
Advantages of Working in a Group | Disadvantages of Working in a Group |
More Productive | Unequal Participation |
More Resources | Intrinsic Conflict |
More Reliable | No Individual thinking |
Learn Things | Decision making takes time |
How do I choose a class representative?
Stay connected
- Get elected. In the first two weeks of the semester your lecturer or tutor should call for expressions of interest in becoming a class rep, and will then hold elections to select a class rep.
- Get registered.
- Get trained.
- Get rep-ing.
- Get support.
- Get recognised.
Are self-selected groups more effective in the classroom?
For proponents of self-selected groups, Brookfield and Preskill (1999) suggested that students feel more comfortable and more motivated when they are able to self-select group members. For logistical purposes, it might simply be faster to assemble students based on where they are sitting in a classroom.
Should students choose their own group members?
Letting students select their own group members gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their decision-making skills and to solve problems on their own. They need to make smart choices about who they do and do not decide to work with. Inevitably, someone either always gets chosen last or doesn’t immediately find a group and needs help.
How do teachers decide what type of group project is best?
First and foremost, teachers must establish students’ learning objectives before deciding what type of group project will best achieve them. Groups are distinguished by project length (five minute interactions through year-long), type of task, and teachers’ learning objectives.
Should you use assigned groups in the classroom?
Using assigned groups provides a sense of fairness. If the groups are selected in class by random grouping (such as drawing names out of a hat), then the students can see that the selection process was random and the same for everyone. Students may not be happy with their assigned group members, or even accuse you of “stacking” certain groups.