I use this strategy for forming groups to ensure diverse/multicultural groups that combine a variety of different strengths and resources based on student's academic, disciplinary, linguistic, national, personal and work backgrounds.
At the beginning of the course, I form groups of 4-5 students based on students’ backgrounds and strengths. Students are expected to collaborate on visual representations of content from required readings, discuss readings, prepare questions for class discussions, and through this work to draw on their various strengths and to see themselves as resources for each other.
In class, I ask the students to answer some questions about their strengths in various areas and backgrounds, such as their disciplinary background, nationality, native language, special skills and experience working in international organizations. I then form the groups in front of them by sorting their responses to form groups, where they can complement each other.
