Forming teams

Part of these packages: Learning in teams

Supported by these technologies: TeamUp,

Divide the students in your class into teams of 4-5 students. Each team works on a separate topic of inquiry that is related to the theme of the course. The students suggest topics they are interested in and are grouped accordingly, taking also into account their differences to create functional heterogeneous teams.

Recommended frequency: once

1. Preparation

Set up TeamUp by adding names, portraits and mental notes of the students in your class.

Remember to also add your students’ language skills. See TeamUp tool manual, part 1 ‘Add and edit students’ for more information.

Decide whether you assess teams or individuals.

You may print the PDF of student portraits (http://teamup.aalto.fi/TeamUp-Student-portrait-Illustrations.pdf), and take images of the illustrated characters to represent your students in TeamUp.

2. Introduction

Present the theme of the course as to provide students with basic information, while leaving many questions open.

Ask students to think about what they would like to study.

3. Activity

Ask the students to suggest topics for inquiry and collect their suggestions. Rephrase, alter or reject suggestions.

Let students choose for their favourite topics and create teams to match students with their topic choice.

Students start teamwork, which usually spans across multiple lessons, probably the entire course.

4. Assessment

Use your mental notes as a guide in assessing student performance and improvement.

You may brainstorm assessment criteria with the students, or give a diagnostic test at the beginning of the course to understand what the students already know and what their weaknesses are.

This post is also available in: Turkish