Student groups, what do you do with students who don't contribute?
I'm sure everyone has had the experience of either being in a group, or instructing a group, where there is one person who just doesn't contribute.
In the past, I have often taken these students from each group and regrouped them together. After reading this material, they address not removing members.
How do you handle that student in the group that doesn't carry their weight? Do you think that the group alone should be address it and you should assist them in the methods of approach?
April Ragland
Jenny,
this is an excellent point. One purpose of these groups is to help prepare the students for the work force.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I try to have my students resolve it themselves. All of my students are adults and I feel that this problem will also arise in the work place so learning how to deal with it now should help them in their career.
Initially, I encourage the group members to address the situation with that member as a means of having them work on their conflict-resolution skills, and then if no resolution is found, I will intercede. In an attempt to reduce the likelihood of "lack of contribution or effort", I present a rubric of how this group project will be graded which includes a category dealing with effort/contribution. I also have a portion of the project grade (usually 10% or less) that is taken from self and peer evaluations so each member knows that poor effort and contribution or participation will have a detrimental effect on his/her grade. I also make it clear that the scoring must be backed up with relevant feedback comments to serve as opportunities for learning and improvement.
