Monitoring individual effeort while working with a group can be tricky. My method is to occasionally talk with each group as whole and ask who is doing what with the group project. I also have them show proof of what their individual contributions are to the group project and take notes on each individual member.
Dale,
I do a similar thing in the course where I most heavily use student groups. I think there needs to be an outlet for individual evaluation, but also that element of group accountability.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I use peer ratings. But I also assign the group the requirement of presenting their results/findings to the entire class. I then require each member of the group to participate some way in this presentation. It provides another means to assess individual contribution.
I think I would let students do self evaluation. They tend to be honest, and the pressure to have your peers give you a good review would be a good motivator.
Melissa,
this is a great way to promote variety in the group work as well as to make sure that all are pulling their weight.
Dr. Ryan Meers
When students are in a group, you have to evaluate them as a group and as individuals, meaning that you must look at their work together and disect it as an individual. The efforts that are put forth in a group should be even between all members of the group. It is easy to detail this out individually when you track the effors of what each individual contributes to the group and how the group reacts to that individual.
Students in groups need to write down what they are doing to contribute to the group. The team needs to sign off on whether each team member did their part and they give their peers a grade. Each individual is also to write down what they felt they did well on and what an area of apportunity was for them in the team.
I have students rotate team roles so that over time they have had to demonstrate skills in all team areas. For example, presenting, writing, reviewing/editing, presentaiton development, note taking, etc.
I have the team score be 50% and the individual score be 50% of the grade.
Dr. Felicia,
I have found this technique (on the whole) to be effective & helpful.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Having students identify each team member's contribution is a great idea. Then, the instructor can grade each team member using the percentage or amount of effort the team member puts in the group.
During the group's work and at the conclusion, I ask students to write a brief explanation of their contributions to the group's efforts, which I use as a formative assessment. They are to include in this any challenges they faced individually, any obstacles the group faced as a whole, and a self-assessment of how much they contributed to the group. I've found that students are surprisingly honest in doing this and knowing that they'll have to account for their time and effort makes them more effective group members.
In terms of summative assessments, I make sure that each group project has both a group and an individual component. For instance, if the group does a presentation, each member must participate verbally in the presentation and he/she will be judged on their speaking skills and preparation in that section.
I usually give the same group the same grade if the group agrees that everyone contributed their fair share. I always instruct the group that if I see them not participating or if other group members let me know someone in the group is not doing their part.
Tom,
yes, there are many resources out there that we can use. And keep refining, that is how we continue to improve ourselves.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have found a variety of rubrics at various websites that have helped me set up individual evaluations. To be honest, I'm still refining, but they help the student know precisely what the grade will be based on. I have also asked students to complete a rubric on their peers. The students receive the rubric before the assignment to know how they will be evaluated.
Randy,
I have found this to be true as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I like to combine my own assessment along with a peer review of their contributions to the group. I have fund this to be very accurate and it eliminates most "social loafers".
Monitoring the individuals in the groups will help with evaluation. I also like the idea of peer reviews...they should be answerable to their fellow group members. I will incorporate the peer reviews.
Michelle,
yes, we could probably all do a better job of monitoring the groups & not just turning them loose.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jean,
I agree with your ideas here. When we assign the groups & make them work together, it really is a better preparation for the work environment.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Monitoring group work is a way to help an individual learn to work together as a team. also it is a good gauge for the instructor to knowing their students needs.
Grading a group project is one of the most challenging assesments an instructor can make. I think self evaluation, group evaluation and then intructor evaluation can all come into play. There my be a certain number of points for each. Maybe and individual thought he did great, the group, maybe not. And as a teacher you must have a strong rubric, so that they know what is expected of them and perform accordingly. But it's important for students to learn to work in a group dynamic as many work places use teams for projects.
