Group work assessments

According to the TIC student Survey (2009) (Word, 189kb), though group work is a popular teaching method amongst students, who enjoy its participatory nature, it is not always a popular assessment method. When using group work as part of assessment there are certain considerations to reflect on.

Strategies for more inclusive group work assessment

Equal participation, contribution, and distribution of tasks is rarely achieved in group work. Industrious students may take on more of the burden. Or more assertive students may have a greater voice in the process than their group mates. These considerations can make group work a problematic assessment method. Therefore, you may want to consider some of the following strategies:

• Limit the contribution of group work assignments to final marks,
• Include a form of peer assessment within group work grading,
• Assign specific tasks to individual students so that you can assess individual input within your marking scheme.

For more on inclusion within the group work process see: group work as a teaching method.