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  • 1.  Allocating students to groups

    Posted 08-27-2007 11:37
    Like Larry, I have tried various methods over the years, and none is without its problems.  My experience was similar with self-selection in that it led to great differentiation in the groups' abilities.  In particular, non-English speakers tended to group themselves along linguistic lines.  I have also tried completely random allocation, making the allocation live in front of the students.  This was certainly perceived to be fair and and was accepted by the students.  However, I am aware of the students' capabilities, having taught most of them in the previous year, and I can see some potentially disastrous groupings occurring.  A group of four can survive one "passenger" but if it contains two, then it places a considerable burden on those who actually do the work.  Most recently I have used a random system, dividing the students into four pools based on various criteria and selecting one student from each pool.  I was happy with the outcome but did feel somewhat uneasy as the pooling was subject to my prejudices.  (I do the allocation in Excel with random numbers and do admit to pushing the F9 key several times until I got a set of "random" groups that I was happy with!)

    My inclination for the coming year is to move back towards something more openly random with any pooling arrangement based on public, objective criteria such as the student's degree programme.  Finally, I have, for several years, used a system of peer assessment which makes individual adjustments to the overall group score (in a range of about +/- 5 percentage points).  This I have found to be extremely useful and very successful in eliminating complaints about the "free rider" problem.

    Best wishes,

    Kim Parker


     
    --  Dr Kim T Parker Director of Undergraduate Programmes/BBA Director of Studies Annex Room 8 Kent Business School The University of Kent Canterbury Kent CT2 7PE UK  Tel: 01227 823604 Fax: 01227 761187 Email: K.T.Parker@kent.ac.uk


  • 2.  Allocating students to groups

    Posted 08-27-2007 13:01
    Many of us have wrestled with the details of procedures for forming
    groups in courses. I am now considering these thoughts (not mutually
    exclusive), and I would appreciate comments:

    1. Suppose I have the students create the procedures?
    (A procedure would include implementation steps and who would conduct
    them. I suppose that I think I reserve the right to veto suggestions,
    or at least to comment upon them. Students seem very willing to ask me
    to spend 100 hours on changing things in the course.)

    2. Suppose I let students self-select groups, with the provision that
    all groups will earn the same "average" participation score for th
    course?
    (Teams would, however, allocate to members by peer evaluation the grades
    I assign to group work. That would include dividing up that identical
    participation score I would assign to all groups. I pretty much do this
    already, except that I allow groups to negotiate -- based upon evidence
    -- higher-than average group scores.)

    I am interested in having students see (and experience) the dynamics
    that would emerge from these -- and other -- approaches.

    Comments ... ?

    -Randy



    Kim T. Parker wrote:
    > Like Larry, I have tried various methods over the years, and none is
    > without its problems.
    --
    Randall G. Sleeth, Ph.D.
    School of Business
    Virginia Commonwealth University
    901 West Franklin Street
    Richmond, VA 23284-4000
    804-828-1540
    rsleeth@vcu.edu
    http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rsleeth


  • 3.  Allocating students to groups

    Posted 08-27-2007 15:41
    To all:
     
    Here is a question...when we have work groups (committees, project teams, etc) how often do we select these groups based on diversity of interests, functional discipline areas, demographic diversity, etc.? In my experience, the answer is almost never.
     
    Usually, in academic as well as other settings, we work in the groups to which we are assigned with those who are also assigned by "management." I think the key issue is not how to get people into groups but what skills they need to succeed with the groups once the get there.  Although I love Bill Ferris' system, I usually just assign groups at random, ask them to select a team leader, and let them work.
    As a resource, I offer some ideas about working in groups, some remedies for what happens if someone is not meeting responsibilities, and meet occasionally with the group leaders for a progress report. If asked, I will also provide some consulting time with the group for process issues.
    This seems to work just fine and neither students nor instructor has to spend a lot of time designing the group composition.
     
    If anyone is interested, I will be happy to share my handout on group leader tasks and the process for dealing with problem group members. I don't want to burden the entire listserv with this so, if interested, please email me at: meisel@lasalle.edu
     
    Hope this is helpful.
     
    Steve
    Steven Meisel, PhD
    Management Department
    Associate Dean for Research and Professional Activity
    School of Business
    La Salle University
    1900 W. Olney Ave.
    Philadelphia, PA 19141 USA
    Voice 215.951.1364