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The challenge of assigning groups

Frennesson, Lina LU ; Lama, Phudoma LU ; Libertson, Frans LU ; Martin, Tina LU and Wahlström, Fanny LU (2020)
Abstract
Group work is increasingly used in higher education and is associated
with several benefits, both for the students and the teacher. How groups are
assigned is of significance for the success of group work. This study aspires to
explore the ways in which teachers can assign groups in order to enable successful
group work. The findings indicate that heterogeneous groups that consist of
students with complementary abilities are the most favourable for successful
group work. Furthermore, three different methods for assigning groups were
identified via interviews with teachers in higher education: 1) groups
intentionally assigned by teacher, 2) randomly assigned by teacher, and 3) groups
decided by... (More)
Group work is increasingly used in higher education and is associated
with several benefits, both for the students and the teacher. How groups are
assigned is of significance for the success of group work. This study aspires to
explore the ways in which teachers can assign groups in order to enable successful
group work. The findings indicate that heterogeneous groups that consist of
students with complementary abilities are the most favourable for successful
group work. Furthermore, three different methods for assigning groups were
identified via interviews with teachers in higher education: 1) groups
intentionally assigned by teacher, 2) randomly assigned by teacher, and 3) groups
decided by students. Each method is however associated with both advantages
and disadvantages, and it appears challenging for teachers to assign groups in an
optimal manner. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
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organization
publishing date
type
Other contribution
publication status
published
subject
categories
Higher Education
pages
15 pages
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
12abcace-725b-4a84-bfee-97cab9d6ff9d
date added to LUP
2020-08-05 16:16:37
date last changed
2020-08-06 09:46:45
@misc{12abcace-725b-4a84-bfee-97cab9d6ff9d,
  abstract     = {{Group work is increasingly used in higher education and is associated <br/>with several benefits, both for the students and the teacher. How groups are <br/>assigned is of significance for the success of group work. This study aspires to <br/>explore the ways in which teachers can assign groups in order to enable successful <br/>group work. The findings indicate that heterogeneous groups that consist of <br/>students with complementary abilities are the most favourable for successful <br/>group work. Furthermore, three different methods for assigning groups were <br/>identified via interviews with teachers in higher education: 1) groups <br/>intentionally assigned by teacher, 2) randomly assigned by teacher, and 3) groups <br/>decided by students. Each method is however associated with both advantages <br/>and disadvantages, and it appears challenging for teachers to assign groups in an <br/>optimal manner.}},
  author       = {{Frennesson, Lina and Lama, Phudoma and Libertson, Frans and Martin, Tina and Wahlström, Fanny}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{The challenge of assigning groups}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/82387543/Group_2_The_challenge_of_assigning_groups_final.pdf}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}