A Generic Model for the Group Formation Problem Using Constraint Logic Programming

For collaborative learning to be successful, the instructor must carefully plan the formation of student groups. Typically, a teacher uses a set of conditions inferred from certain student parameters such as individual proficiency, learning and thinking styles, team-related traits and personality traits. While all of these parameters are instructor-driven, it is also favorable to get the teammate preferences of the students. Based on this, an instructor strategy can thus be generalized as an assignment problem that satisfies the most number of predetermined conditions based on these parameters and the most number of teammate preferences. In this paper, the generic model was implemented using constraint logic programming. Cohorts produced are evaluated based on the parameter constraints satisfied and on the number of teammate preferences satisfied. As such, the study demonstrates not only the feasibility of applying Constraint Logic Programming in the field of computer-supported group formation but also demonstrates that an instructor strategy can both include parameters decided by the instructor and teammate preferences from students.