These are several opinions taken from students in a ME 331 class about Base Groups.

1. What has been effective about working in cooperative groups so far?

• I am able to work out the problems that I got stuck doing by myself. More motivation to do and    attempt the homework.
• Being able to talk about the homeworks problems with others and working through the concepts. Better understanding of the material in general because always talking about it.
• Working in groups has allowed me to get a different view about any difficulties in homework that I have.
• Constructive discussion and subject clarification. Working out details in problems.
• We email and compare answers so we know if we are solving in the right way.
• You get a much wider variety of explanation of topics, which allows you to see it from different views that you may not have considered, much easier to get through the homework with others to explain what you don't understand.
• Every group member contributes to our discussion. We have all worked well together as a group. We attack problems until we agree on a solution.
• Working in groups makes me study the material about 3 times, which is more than I study in other courses.
• It has saved me time. Sometimes I'll struggle for hours on one problem, when I meet with my groups sometimes they can help point out that one thing I'm missing.
• We can discuss challenging problems and ideas. Does not have to stuck on one problem. Does not have to get confused on reading and have to go to class confused.

• Time consuming, but not important
• Very few, but schedule conflicts could arise and create problems.
• The biggest drawback is selecting a time for which all four members can meet at the same time and same place.
• We don't spend a lot of time solving problems we have questions about.
• I don't see a lot of drawbacks, besides we tend to rely on other person to get the right answer if we didn't get it.
• None.
• Homework (speed of completion). Scheduling - it would be nice if my base group took all my classes and I would have the same base group for all classes.
• There aren't really drawbacks, but there is a compatibility problem when groups are assigned by an instructor.
• Not able to understand others explaining how they came to a solution.
• It has been very difficult to find a time to meet. Everyone not always prepare when we meet, so not much more productive than studying alone.

• Continue with what we are currently doing. Currently we meet twice a week, finish/attempt our homework before meeting, we meet at very convenient time.
• Make sure to have problems completed before meeting as well as reading the chapter.
• When selecting groups, may be a survey of 'person type' would help group people with dissimilar storng points.
• Work problems out together instead of coming together and only figuring out problems.
• Some of the stuff helps, but the requirements make it frustrating.
• Have all material read, and have all problems attempted.
• Send email faster, have all problems worked before the exam.
• Read ahead and discuss material before we listen to lectures on that material.
• Have individual homework done at meeting time.
• Be prepared to answer questions in class. Finish my homework before all meetings - at least look at the problems that I don't understand and the material behind them.
• The groups should be more of a focus outside of class. We should meet so everyone can attend. Maybe the groups though shouldn't be used as much in class.
• I think that we should do the problems together not just doing them seperately, and discuss them when we are together.
• Meet more, better place of meeting, stay contact in email or phone.