One of the key requirements that I often find in job openings posts is "ability to work well individually and as a team." I believe that by promoting group activities in the classroom, not only will this give students the opportunity to work together as a team, but it will also give them the opportunity to learn more about their classmates and interact with them. I prefer assigning groups instead of allowing people to choose their groups because they will automatically group up with people they are familiar with, thereby limiting their chance of getting to learn more about their peers. Also, a student would be more likely to ask support from a classmate who he or she is familiar with (whether it's help on homework, a ride to class, or further explanation of the classwork). Whatever the case, I believe that group interaction in the classroom promotes the sense of feeling like a family, and fosters student retention.