MAILING LISTS

Hi! I have just joined the list. I learned about team based learning this summer at a conference and am currently redesigning a course for fall, so I am a new-be.

I have a question about forming teams. I teach an educational technology class with a 14 student limit due to the limited number of computers in the lab. This course is required of every one seeking teacher licensure - both elementary and secondary. This is one of the special challenges of this class. The way an elementary teacher uses the computer is different from the way a secondary teacher uses a computer. I would really like to have two classes, one for elementary and one for secondary, but we are too small to do this at our school. I plan on having two 7 member teams. This semester, it just so happens that I have 7 secondary students and 7 elementary students. Within each group there is diversity as far as subject they plan to teach, ability, and computer skill. So my question is: should I have an elementary team and a secondary team or should I create the teams based on computer skill and experience as Dr. Michaelsen described in his book and on the web page video integrating the two types of students.

I would appreciate any advice,
Thanks,
Karen Milligan
Carson-Newman College
Jefferson City, TN