What is the best method for grading student's performance in a Group Project?
How should student's performance be graded in a in a group project?
What I try to do is ensure that the students know ahead of time the criteria for their mark as part of the group. Then, once the project is complete, I have the group members evaluate each others' participation in the group as well as the group overall. I then use those comments (within reason) with my overall observation and impression of the group's work together to determine their mark. The group projects will always have one portion of the total mark be an individual mark for each individual student's participation and involvement in the group accomplishing their task.
I tend to use a combination of my evaluation of the individual, my evaluation of the group, an individual evaluation by group members, and audience feedback. A lot more work is involved in coming up with the eventual grade, but a lot of feedback is provided to the student from differing points of view.
I hand out a rubric too. I grade everyone the same unless someone is very far off track or very far ahead of the rest of the group. I use the rubric to validate their work.
I give a grading rubric along with the project instructions and an envelope. When the project is turned in to me, I ask students to evaluate themselves and their partners performance and hand it back to me in the sealed envelope. This gives me an idea of how each person feels the other participated.
I usually use 3 methods to grade group projects. I create a rubric for the group project. I create a group evaluation for students to give feedback on the presentation they see. I also allow students to evaluate their own group members on their contibution to the project.
Good question!
First provide a form of group evaluation and criteria, and then provide an individual evaluation for the team. They will apply their opinion and evaluation.
Also, other way is to provide to the audience the same evaluation to evaluate the group, and attached with the instructor evaluation.
That is a good method that seems fair,it probably requires more observation and grading work frome the instructor however recording an individual as well as participation measures the student performance better. I have been a student participating in learning groups and have apreciated when an instructor observed our individual efforts and how that related to the overall group project result.
Hi Robert!
The use of a rubric is an excellent way to help students know what is expected of them. I find when I use a rubric for grading it just reenforces the instructions for the project.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
A find a rubric for grading group student performance most helpful. I always give the rubric to students well before any group presentation. This provides students exact expectations for the group and their personal part in the presentation. I usually weight the grading at about 70% individual and 30% group as I have discovered that for the most part there are students that will do more work than others as far as group dynamics and effort.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for the reminder about the rubric. I, too, use rubrics for my grading. Do you give the rubric to the students when you give them their assignment? I do - it lets them know how they will be graded. I feel like this helps them focus in on the important areas.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I really like your idea of group grading. I also develop a “group grading rubric†(participated with group, offered ideas, leadership roles, etc) so that I can offer a fair grade to all (and this way, I have justification of why they received the grade they did).
Hi Kathryn!
I like the idea of an evaluation of fellow students but not "grading". I think an evaluation cam be constructive criticism and certainly grading is not another students responsibility. What do you think?
Goo job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I think this is a good method for evaluating. As long as the students in the group understand this method prior to the students beginning work on the project. I think if they know they're going to be graded by the other students in the group and by the instructor for their presentation they will try harder to participate.
If I am understanding you correctly -- you allow each student to grade each other from within the group --- and also assign a grade that you determine from presentation--?
I give students two grades; one as a group grade and the other based on individual participation. I allow students to grade each group member, but I also grade that member based on performance during presentations.
