Group Work

VEX GO
1

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on managing group work with younger students using VEX GO.

Because of kit limitations, students are sharing boxes, and I constantly struggle to keep both partners focused and engaged. Typically, one student dominates the physical build while the other completely checks out or gets off-task.

Here is what I’ve tried so far:

  • Splitting the build into separate components: For example, when building a tank, having one student build the base and the other build the turret. However, this hasn’t been very successful.

  • Grouping adjustments: Grouping friends together leads to lost focus, but separating friends seems to cause similar off-task behavior.

How do you structure partner work so that both students remain actively involved throughout the lesson? Are there specific roles, procedures, or management strategies you’ve found successful with lower grades?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

2

Hi @Kai_Terami this is one of the most common challenges with GO, and you’re not alone in it. I like to say that I was probably the worst teacher in the world when it came to group work. I could never get it right.

Luckily, the education team here is much smarter than me. The structure they created is assigning roles that come with specific jobs. VEX GO labs use two roles, Builder and Journalist, and they switch at set points in the lesson. The Journalist reads the build steps aloud, finds and hands over the next pieces, and keeps track of the kit. The Builder only builds what the Journalist has read. When they switch, the other partner picks up the build. Both students are needed at every step, so no one can take over the whole build.

A few things that help with younger grades:

  • Use the Robotics Roles & Routines sheet so each student writes their name next to their job before starting.
  • Decide ahead of time how disagreements get settled (coin flip, rock paper scissors) so arguments don’t eat up the lesson.
  • Switch roles on a timer or at page breaks in the build instructions, and announce it to the whole class.
  • Ask the Journalist questions during check-ins. It tells them they’re accountable too.

This article walks through it with printable slides: https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/360050329151
There’s also a short PD+ video: Organizing Group Work with VEX GO | VEX Professional Development Plus