A great way to evaluate individual effort is to watch the degree of participation. The more they participate the more a part of the group and the class they feel
Wow, this is a great question. One way to evaluate individual effort in a group is by having all students to do a peer evaluation. You can also have students break up the work into sections and assign students to each section or color code the final project so an instructor is aware of what each student has done in the project.
Thanks,
Nick
This can be tricky. However, I think it is helpful to design the group project in a way in which it can be divided equally between members. I also allow for each member to anonymously comment on the participation/contribution of others.
Sounds like a good strategy.
Each student gets an individual grade based on what their participation in the group was and then a grade is asssigned to the group as a whole.
I make sure that each person in the group has an individual assignment that they are responsible for at the end of the session. The end project is a complilation of all the individual assignments along side of the group goal.
In my military campign design class I assign an objective or overall goal to each group. Each member receives individual assignments that are needed to complete the group goal. These are milestone events that have scheduled deadlines along the way to completing the group project. I meet with the groups and individuals during these “milestone sessions,†and they receive my feedback. The quality of the work done is usually a good indicator of a student’s contribution to the group and the project. The deadlines give me a measure of how each student is keeping up with their individual responsibilities. Students are evaluated individually (50%) on their contribution, and as a group on the final overall objective (50%). This requires a well thought out lesson plan and special attention must be paid to the schedule that goes with it.
It is almost always a situation where you have a leader then the quiet one and the traditional "note taker". just because someone wants to be a leader does not mean they are the smartest one in the group. it does mean that they take charge in getting the ideas to flow by conducting the rest of the group. the best way is to spend a little time in each group and listen to what they are saying and doing.
I find that by allowing students to evaluate themselves, their team-mates, and the success of the group overall, I gain a very clear picture of each individual's contribution to a project.
My group work is based on several phases; the student completes phases 1-4, 5-7, 8-10,and 11-12. At each interval I meet with the group to check their progress using a rubric. Using the rubric might indicate they should go back and review a portion of a project phase. Individual grades are given on each phase.
I prefer to divide group projects into individual and group portions. The individual is grading on their portion and group participation level.
Hi Teri!
I like the approach! But I think I understand why students took the route that they did evaluating peers. In the beginning, they assume everyone is going to be a contributor then other group members begin to demonstrate either positive or negative involvement. I've always found that people don't like to pull someone else's weight unless their is a legitimate reason. If there is - students will rally around that person.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I evaluate individual members by observing their interactions within the group. Also, having the group grade themselves and the participation of each member has been sucessful.
This is exactly what I did last semester for the group projects that I assigned in each group. I would watch closely each member of each group and make my own notes on what I witnessed and I also had the students rate each other within their groups. I had them do the evaluations in the beginning on first impressions, then halfway through, and finally at the end.
The first evaluation I asked for names and I noticed that all the answers were bland and noncommittal. The other two evaluations I told them to put their names on the list and evaluate themselves so I would not be able to tell who wrote them (and neither would any one else in the class). I had reassured them before the first one that I would be the only one to see them, but it wasn't until the last one that students began being honest with their evaluations of their groupmates.
Teri
By practicing the skills of good observation I am able to have a good sense of which students are carrying the load for a group, which students are TAKING all the load for a group, and which groups are sharing the work.
I also give a survey to each member of the group, and the last question is always: "How do you think the grade for this group work should be divided?" and then give some options:
everyone did their fair share; divide the grade equally.
Divide the grade along these percentages: ____% to student A
____% to student B
____% to student C.
I take this into consideration when assigning final grades -- AND I'm always amazed at how consistent group members tend to rate their group!
I like this idea for use in the classroom. I plan on changing my evaluation plan to include an evaluation of how they worked together in their group. I think this is one of the "soft skills" that everyone should learn for every career!
I find that allowing group members to self grade each individual as 30% of final group grade is a useful tool. I also assign speciifc tasks for each member as a part of the whole asssignment
I evaluate individual members of student groups by assigning each individual a certain task that will benefit the whole group.
GREAT approach James! You are validating individual abilities and encouraging a non-threatening learning environment.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
In my opinion there are always the same three types of people in all aspects of life, not just classrom groups. Learning to deal with the dynamics is just another useful part of life in general!
