Structure Group Work to Foster Belonging and Engagement

When instructors ask students to create their own small groups, they prompt seemingly casual interactions that can, in fact, be loaded with subtle exclusion. The is especially true for nontraditional students and those from underrepresented backgrounds. Instead, GSIs can promote inclusion by placing students into assigned groups. We also recommend taking the steps outlined in this article on small-group work by Berkeley alumnus Dr. Michel Estefan.