I have an online class where I have the students perform group work but then have each student turn in the project. Part of the grade requires each project to the same meaning that if one student is involved in social loafing, it is going to be pretty embarrassing for him to ask the group for the final agreed upon product.
Any thoughts???
I'm always looking for that one individual who is timid or shy and not sure of themselves. While I won't single them out when they're part of their group, I will take the time to discuss individually what they can bring personally to their group. Every student has something to offer and it's up to the instructor to help bring that attribute out in a group setting. Maybe it's a math skill or a previous job where pertinent information can be shared. It could be as simple as a recent family vacation and the adventure that they had that's relative to the groups assignment. That's the value of knowing your groups as well as each individual student. Now it's up to you, the instructor, to realize who's holding back and take action to get everyone involved.
I like to sit in periodically to monitor how the group is doing collectively and individually. But the real test when I can't be in the room at all times is to have all the group members conduct an evaluation of all their group members at the end of the project/assignment.
I use groups to help teach them teamwork.
Hi Lenore!
I really like this approach - an excellent way to get students engaged in and excited about a project.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Practical points are points our school has assigned to the lab work the students perform (wiring electrical circuits, bending conduit, etc...).
Hi Shannon!
I like this approach - you are allowing students to empower themselves and helping them to get acquainted with the group process.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Rhonda!
Group work is not easy for an instructor or the group. Would you please share your ideas?
I will provide basic parameters, but I think the next group work that I do I will let the group decide the topic, how they will present it and who will do exactly what. Then I will let them grade each other and the project work. It's my opinion that the biggest challenge to group work is that there is no buy-in by the students.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Greetings!
Gordon, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by practical points. Help!
I've been a little nervouse when I say group patrol each other. I try to use this as a teaching opportunity by talking about the steps that groups take to a finished product - storming, norming, performing, disbanding.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
By assigning each student outside work/study guide/topic of group discussion, etc that they must bring in at the beginning of the class period and be checked by me.
I dialogue with the students and I grade their work individually and as a group. I usually provide written requirements of the assignment and ensure that all of the requirements have been met.
I just had my first group project and it got a little frustrating. There were two parts to the project, an individual part and a group part, (ppt). Some thought that because they did the individual part and someone else put the ppt. together that they should receive full credit. I explained in the beginning that participation with the ppt. was required in order to get a grade, but some tried. I was able to get through it but I have developed some ideas for the next time.
Are groups are usually perfoming tasks to get practical points, i tell them to make sure that everyone in the group is doing something since all of them will receive the same grade, i also tell them if something is wrong that they all need to fix the problem.
I first make them give me a layout of who is going to do what so they each have a portion to do. I then grade them on their portion and how well it fits into the entire project.
Hi Angelina!
If there is one observation that I can make about group work is that it is a challenge for most instructors. Most of us have such diversity in the classromm, it makes it difficult to put the best group together. Maybe we really don't let the group process take it's course!!??
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
First,i'll stablish a master plan for a project and give every memmber of the group an specific assignment.This way every memmber has to participate and it is easy for me grade them
Hi Robin!
I am interested in knowing if you ask your students to evaluate their group members?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Daniel!
I really like this approach! I am curious how the "slacker" picks up the pace after the meeting with them? It seems to me that this approach should provide a lot of positive reenforcement.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 facilitator
I like to have the students to evaluate them selfs indivigaly and also as a group. Then I add my comment after they give me there scores to come up with final grade for each ones grade.
It is the responsibility of the instructor to monitor the activities of the groups. Even though the students are working on a group project they should have a section or portion of the assignment for which they are solely responsible. These two elements will allow the instructor to evaluate student performance.
