Introduction

Group work is a cornerstone of higher education, helping students develop essential skills for their future careers. However, traditional group formation methods—self-selection and random assignment—often result in imbalanced teams and hinder effective collaboration. To address this, the University of Leeds partnered with unihelper.io to explore a more structured approach to forming student groups.

The Challenge with Traditional Group Formation

Traditional group formation methods can create challenges for both students and educators:

• Self-Selecting Groups: Often lead to social cliques, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives and excluding some students.

• Randomized Groups: Can result in mismatched teams with conflicting work habits and unbalanced skillsets, reducing group effectiveness.

These challenges highlight the need for a more thoughtful and inclusive approach to group formation.

A Data-Informed Approach to Group Work

Unihelper.io introduces a structured, data-driven method to form balanced and cohesive student groups. The process involves:

1. Student Input: Students complete a brief, customizable questionnaire developed collaboratively by educators and unihelper.io experts.

2. Algorithmic Matching: The platform uses an algorithm to analyze responses and create groups based on diversity in skills, aligned expectations, and course-specific needs.

3. Educator Oversight: Instructors can review and adjust group assignments through a user-friendly administrative portal.

   
   

Key Findings from the University of Leeds Study

The study conducted at the University of Leeds revealed several positive outcomes associated with using unihelper.io:

• 95% of students felt that group work helped them develop collaboration skills relevant to their future careers.

• 70% of participants reported making new friendships within their unihelper.io groups, enhancing their sense of community.

• 78% of students noted that group participation improved their engagement, motivation, and focus.

Improving Student Experience and Wellbeing

The study suggests that forming well-balanced groups can enhance not only academic performance but also students' overall sense of belonging. By aligning group composition with individual preferences and complementary skills, students are more likely to collaborate effectively and build supportive peer relationships.

Student Reflections

Students shared their experiences working in unihelper.io-assigned groups:

• "We balanced each other's strengths and weaknesses well."

• "I made meaningful friendships through this group experience."

These reflections highlight the platform's potential to support both academic and social development.

Learn More

Read the full research paper here.