Quick Hits
Daily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences
There has been a long-standing debate and discussion in learning contexts for what is the best way to form groups for optimal learning when there are different abilities in those groups.
The two classic strategies are one, put those of similar ability together so that everyone can operate at a similar level and hopefully benefit from more targeted learning. And two, put differing abilities together so that the peers can also benefit from each other and those with stronger ability can also pull along the weaker ones.
This applies to many scenarios, from sports training, to educational contexts, and even in business.
However different research has pointed to different things – for example in peer learning differences, if not too large seem to be beneficial. But if differences are too large, it becomes detrimental. So, to answer this question enter mathematicians from the University of Rochester.
They analysed this using mathematical principles which included multiple assumptions such as: multiple groups would be formed; the individuals involved would have different skill levels; an optimal teaching environment would be one in which a student is taught at a level that matches his or her skill level; and the optimal grouping system would maximize the collective benefit for all students.
They then analysed three grouping scenarios. Tiered grouping according to ability, balanced grouping of different abilities, and random groupings.
And what were the results?
The results showed that according to this mathematical model tiered-grouping, grouping according to ability was best.
It should be noted that this is, as we would expect, best for the group on average. For an individual however, it might not be best. For example, an individual might benefit more from being in a group of people with higher ability (probably not too much higher).
But for the moment, though I am sure the debate will continue, mathematics shows that grouping people into similar ability groups is best for learning…on average.
Andy Habermacher
Andy is author of leading brains Review, Neuroleadership, and multiple other books. He has been intensively involved in writing and research into neuroleadership and is considered one of Europe’s leading experts. He is also a well-known public speaker, speaking on the brain and human behaviour.
Andy is also a masters athlete (middle distance running) and competes regularly at international competitions (and holds a few national records in his age category).
References
Peter D. Wiens, Christine Zizzi, Chad Heatwole.
Instructional Grouping Theory: Optimizing Classrooms and the Placement of Ranked Students.
Educational Practice and Theory, 2022; 44 (1): 5
DOI: 10.7459/ept/44.1.02
More Quick Hits
Your brain on near-death experiences
Near-death experiences have fascinated many people ever since they have been reported. And these experiences guide our view of how we die: the memories of your life passing in front of your eyes, the tunnel of light, the floating movement towards a bright light....
Social networks grow your brain
The headline is a bit “click baity” but it is what a group of researchers found. To be more specific they found in macaques (cute monkeys) in the wild that having more grooming partners grew different regions of the brain. Grooming is the primate version of having a...
What do creative brains look like?
We’d probably all be happy to be a bit more creative — though research into our own opinions show that many people do actually consider themselves to be above average in creativity. An obvious self-bias. This is where scientists who study creativity come in and find...
New gender biases discovered
There have been many studies on gender biases, and I have followed, written, and spoken about many of these biases over the years (over a decade actually) but two studies have just come out that caught my eye. One out of New York University focused on gender natural...
Growth of your brain over your life
So, we all know that our brain grows very quickly as babies and children and then after a certain age, younger than some of us may like to think, there begins a slow decline. But precisely what and how is the question. Well, this is a question that an international...
How to reduce loneliness
I have reported multiple times on loneliness during the pandemic – mostly because interest and research into loneliness has taken a large uptick. I have also reported on how to combat this and was happy to see that a piece of research just out proved what I had...