When I assign group work students know that I expect all to take part in the assignment. If the group work will be presented a rubric is formed so that everyone will be able to grade the presentation.
Simply have two parts to the group project with each individual being graded on their own parts and then as a group for collaboration and cohesiveness of the project.
Hi Mary!
I would like to reenforce how important it is that students are clear on project, expected outcomes, and how they are going to be graded.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I think it definitely should be evaluated by contributions/comments made by this individual. Even though a person is working in a group, I am not sure everyone should get the same grade. I think (again) it should be determined by contributions/interactions made by this individual.
Earnest J. Kendall Associate/Instructor
I totally agree with this method to determine what the individual's participation in the group is.Each individual is assigned an objective to cover and it is easy to see which student gives theri all and which ones do not.It is very apparent when the group presents for the whole class which part is lacking the work.The best part is when the individual in the group grades each of the their participants --their is no sympathy for the slacker !
Hi Candy!
I agree! I think it is a challenge that all instructor have to face. I use Rubrics to give students in my class all the info/expectations that's needed to successfully complete the group project. In that, I am very clear about how students will be graded and in the group process I often give 3 ways a student can accumulate 100% 1) student individual grade based on deliverable 2) total group participation, and 3) group presentation. It's really great when the group holds each other accountable for their outcomes.
I hope this helps and if have any ideas, please share.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
So Gregory - how are you evaluating your students for their grade?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Gregory!
I really like that you are staying connected with your student groups. But I am curious how you are "evaluating" their individual efforts? You must have some type of rubrics or grading scheme that you use to encourge student partitipation.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I am a new instructor but I recently finished my Masters through an on-line program. You are so right about the make up of a group. It was very frustrating always being the leader or the one doing all the work in a group knowing all would get the same grade, caused a great deal of resentment.
It is good that you are able to evaluate in groups as well as individually.
I observe to see their contribution and then encourage them to participate.
I do evaluate each member individually. Each group project/assignment has a rubric. 10-20% of the student grade is based on my observation of their participation in the group AND a combination of peer evaluation forms that the students fill out when a project is complete. This is also a rubric where students must rate their group members and give reasons behind their ratings.
I find this very effective as "peer pressure" can be a valuable tool in this arena.
Frequent visits to the group to observe progress and dynamics. Possibly peer evaluations as well.
This is tricky. I'll watch and intervene if they seem to be having difficulties. Generally I listen and can easily tell if somebody isn't pulling their weight. That rarely happens in the informal class groups we have, but sometimes a student delegated to organize and then submit the work is slow. When I mention that to any member of the group they usually organize to make sure it is done.
Each student in the group should be held accountable for the completion of the task. I like to assign two grades for group projects - an individual component and a group component. Also students within the same group can evaluate each other. I take the students' comments into account when assigning the grades.
I stole an idea from one of my grad school instructors. He gave us a form to complete and submit. It asked to evaluate the level and quality of participation of each group member, and to write a self-evaluation. The questions he used were detailed and specific, so I changed a few to make sense for my class. Knowing that their fellow group members will evaluate and grade their participation puts some gentle peer pressure on, and encourages participation. The evaluation grades are averaged, and only account for 5% of the project grade, but it really matters to them.
I usually breakdown the group assignments into both group and individual tasks within the group. In some classes, i have each group member develop a survey to give to non class members and have the whole group evaluate it.
It's important for the students to comment on each other both positive and less positive so someone who honestly feels they've contributed more has a forum to have their say.
It's also important to monitor these groups as an instructor also so one person doesn't run the entire operation and that no one feels left out.
Have students evaluate each other!
I have 17 students which once divided in a group of 3-4 assignment are easy to evaluate once finished and each of the student present the class the individual share in the the group assignment.
