I utilize a team charter so I know what portions have been assigned to which students. I aslo have the students evaluate themselves and one-another.
For individual effort, I evaluate them as if they were performing the individual tasks delegated to the group as a whole; as a group member, I evaluate them according to their relative contributions to the group task, including cooperation, communication, useful information, and the overall group accomplishment.
I use groups to practice skills that we have learned in class. The students take turn evaluating each other.
This is something new for me this term. I have never assigned group work before. This term, I have a group of students in their first or second quarter of school. I didn't want to overwhelm them with a huge project, so I redesigned it and made it a group effort. So far, it has been going well.
A former instructor of mine gave me advice about evaluating group work. She said to evaluate them based on the group grade as well as an individual grade given by their peers. Students know that they will be evaluated individually, helping to keep all group members engaged and involved. However, evaluations by their peers should remain anonymous (between that individual and the instructor). Also, students should not be able to calculate how much of their grade depends on group work and how much depends on individual efforts. This way, students will not be able to figure out how their peers evaluated them.
We'll see how it goes this term!
I really appreciate this idea! It is not always possible for groups to work together entirely within the classroom setting, so having some type of feedback from each member of the group regarding the participation level of the others can be very valuable.
I evaluate individual effort while working in a groups. By alloting time in class, I am able to observe the interaction of my students. In one of my classes that I teach I have a student who rather do everything alone. I do not accept this. I explained that out in the working world you become a part of a team. On every team you do not have to like everyone you work with because this is how the world is, and you must become a team player to survive. Remember you do not have to like the person personally that you work with but you must respect each other, and each other differences.
I tell them on the first day they are graded on 2 parts, performance and administrative. Performance is what I observe them doing, and that should ALWAYS be involved with what the group is doing. The second is administrative and that if something is left blank, it is automatically wrong. If their worksheet is worth 10 points, then 5 for performance, and 5 for administrative.
Hi Gwen!
Thanks for reminder about Zoomerrang. I really like the anonyminity that it provides. Then the instructor can openly addresses concerns without students knowing who made the comments.
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED106Facilitator
Zoomerrang is a web based survey builder. You can make surveys and email them to students. They respond anonymously so they feel comfortable giving feed back.
Hi Gwen!
I like your approach. But for those of us who are not familiar with zoomarang, please share more information.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Stephanie!
Peer evaluation is certainly a method for assessing individuals in a group. But I do believe that instructors need to know their students and their learning strengths. Group work may not work at all for some students but it doesn't mean that they can't be a productive students or worker.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I inform students at the beginning of the project that I will be collecting all their rough work, but only one final project. Their grade is 50% final project, 30% rough work, and 20% grade from other members of their group.
WHEN WORKING WITH A GROUP YOU MUST BE ABLE TO STILL EVALUAT INDIVIDUALS ABILATY
it helps all students get a better learning experience
After group projects, I send them a survey through zoomerang in regards to each other's performance. They are then allowed to discuss anyother concerns they have without the fear of the students knowing.
I think that the best way to evaluate students completing an assignment in a group setting is to allow peer evaluation to be a part of the final grade in addition to the grade that the group will receive from me as an instructor. I think that this method reduces the incidence of one or more students not contributing equally as other members in the group.
I monitor the groups as they work and discuss elements of the assignment with each member to evaluate their understanding. I also provide an evaluation to each student that must be completed by other members of the group. Finally I have each student do a self evaluation. I average those scores to determine the individual grade.
I evaluate the students progress throughout the project, with out being told you can observe the subtle cues, or body language, of group members, and help guide their direction. I will often have a "one on one" discussion if I recognize a lack of participation.
I find it helpful to set aside the time to join, or interact with each group, in the capacity of a "group member" and experience their dynamics. Just a short session can reveal a lot. I will then, only give feedback the next day after they have worked alone again, and offer feedback.
Excellant idea! I plan to incorporate this into my criteria for group work evaluations.
