Great question.

In our 10 years now and going strong, our teams stay together for a full year.
Once last year we had a drop down to 4 because of an illness of the 5th - usually we go with 6 per team.  I asked the class for a volunteer, got one, moved them over, everything went fine.

Just yesterday, a team that had become 5 in the Fall after someone dropped out and I asked for a volunteer from the class who joined right in, they lost a member (long story, unrelated to team dynamics).  The team has asked for a new person because they already notice that with 4, it is too hard, they need more brain power.  I sent out a request to the class, got someone, will switch.

Our class size is 104; our attrition is only about 1-2%.  Dean
On Mar 7, 2012, at 4:11 PM, Leonard, Timothy wrote:

> I had a fantastic experience at my first TBLC meeting last week.  Thanks to all who planned and participated!
>  
> I am working with a group of other people at my institution to implement TBL throughout a new integrated Year-1 and Year-2 undergraduate medical curriculum.  We anticipate having approximately 30 teams of 7 students each in our Year-1 class, and these students will work together within these teams throughout the entire academic year (probably average one TBL session every two weeks).  I am wondering what others would advise if any of the TBL groups drop to 4 or fewer students due to “permanent attrition” (withdrawals, academic failures that trigger either dismissal or repeating the year, etc.).
>  
> Thanks for any input/advice,
>  
> Tim Leonard
> Clinical Sciences Dept.
> WVSOM
> Lewisburg, WV