The Impact of Optional Groups on Students
Jonathan Calver, Jennifer Campbell, Michelle L. Craig, Jonathan M. C. Lam · Proceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education · 2022
We investigate the impact of allowing students to optionally work in small groups on problem sets in first- and second-year computer science theory courses. After each homework assignment, students reported on their experience working on that problem set either individually or in a group of two or three. Over 1,300 students from two courses participated. We explore who chooses to work in a group and why, how students work in groups, and differences in learning, drop-rates, help-seeking, and satisfaction with problem set submissions between groups and students working individually.