Student Perception of Shift from Homogenous Grouping to Heterogeneous Grouping at a University Class

摘要

Grouping has been a controversial issue for universities educating in the same classes the highest achievers and comparatively low achievers, reflecting confusion among universities about whether scholarship and tuition fee students should be taught together. This study aims to shed light on what the student population thinks about heterogeneous grouping after living in a homogenous environment. Students in a department who started at two different sections grouped according to their level of prior achievement later took courses in mixed ability classes the following semester. They were given a questionnaire asking about their expectations and opinions of grouping before and after the term. Out of 48 students 26 responded to both questionnaires. Whether they were for or against mixed classes, expectations of students were realized to some extent, which means their attitudes, rather than achievement levels may have impacted upon their perception of the new class and high achievers had anxieties regarding level of holding the classes.