How should team grading and individual grading be balanced?
This Page: Balance | Some Individual Assessment Strategies | Peer Evaluation Templates | References
Balance
They key word is balance. It is important that the team be graded together on the final outcome of whatever assignment they have. On the other hand, you would not want to reward "freeloading" or penalize students who may have genuinely contributed more to the group effort.
Therefore most experts recommend splitting a group project or assignment grade into a team component and an individual component. The following lists ways faculty may be able to assess individual performance within the context of the team.
Top of Page
Some Individual Assessment Strategies
Keep in mind that criteria for an individual grade in a group project may not be based just on content learned, but could also consist of how well he or she was able to participate in the group in terms of contributing ideas, compromising, negotiation and communication.
In addition, if assessments are collected relatively early in the project, you also be able to identify any potential problems for team dynamics. Some strategies that have been used include:
-
Peer Evaluations - Many instructors ask for students to evaluate team members on their performance. Research has found that students are very objective about each other's performance, neither penalizing "unpopular" team mates nor colluding together for a better score. See the Peer Evaluation Templates Section below for some examples.
-
Collecting Team Progress Reports - These reports can include comments of individual performance, or even attendance records.
-
Monitoring an Discussion Forum - Requiring students to post some discussion online let you view how students are thinking and communicating with each other. The Penn State ANGEL Course Management System includes a Message Forum.
-
Collecting Peer Comments - If students are required to review each other's work, such as in a joint Word document. You could collect a marked-up copy of a draft and evaluate how students commented on each other's work.
-
Individual Journals - Students can write journals which document their thought processes and input into the team.
-
Discussion of Grading Criteria - If comfortable, you can have a discussion with your students (in class or online) about what they would recommend as grading criteria. This helps students "own" their grading and think about what team work or project work entails.
TECH TIP: The ANGEL "Learner Profile" allows you to view grades, bulletin board logs and notes for each student.
Peer Evauation Templates
- Penn State World Campus Sample Peer Evaluation Form
Originally created at the University of Maryland - MIT Teaching Teamwork - Multiple evaluation documents available
- Iowa State Design Team - a simple form which asks students to rate just "Effort" and "Contribution"
- Additional PDF forms can be found on a Google search for "student teams peer evaluation form"
References
Brown, David (2002) "Accounting for Team Learning," Syllabus, September 2002.
http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=6709
Michaelson, Larry K. (1999) "Myths And Methods In Successful Small Group Work." National Teaching and Leaning Forum, Vol. 8, #6
Walker Teaching Resource Center, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
(1998) "Evaluating Group Projects - Fairly"
http://www.utc.edu/Teaching-Resource-Center/fairgroups.html [No Longer Available]
Washington Center's Evaluation Committee, Evergreen State College
Assessment in and of Collaborative Learning
http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/resources/acl/index.html
Top of Page
Main Sections: About Teams | Managing Teams | Student Teams | Sitemap | Site Home