Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wiki page
I found it interesting that group work over the internet is similar to an actual classroom setting. Everyone has to agree on a format, and the work needs to be split up. Then it is up to the integrity of each individual to complete their portion of the assignment. I'm guessing that each group had one person in it that was very concerned about the grade that would be assigned to the group project, in my experience this person would make sure that the project met all the objectives and looked good, because their individual grade was influenced by the work of the others in the group. While I understand that the educational world places a high value on group work, stating that lots of learning goes on between members of the group, as a teacher I have shied away from group work. When I did group projects a few years ago I observed a few things that made me give them up. First and foremost is the idea that I stated above, the student that was most concerned about their grade put in the most work on the project. If I put the kids into groups the way the "educational experts" suggest this would mean one or two students did all the work, while the others in the group socialized. If I allowed the students to choose their own groups then, naturally, they worked with friends, so I ended up with some really terrific projects and some junk. In the end I never really saw the outcome that the experts always predict will happen, that the lower kids will learn from the higher kids. Consequently I don't do group projects anymore!!!
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3 comments:
Nancy - I can certainely understand your feelings toward group projects. Remembering them myself as an undergrad student, I always had the same concern, and was always unsure of how we would be graded if one or more of the group slacked off. I'm not exactly sure on the other end how Brian is able to determine who has done all of the work, but I'm guessing that with todays technology advances, that he is able to tell. On top of that, at the graduate level (and being an online course) I thought that this was an excellent tool to use for a group project. Looking back at everones Wiki pages, I thik that all groups did a great job!
Nancy
Hopefully this project showed you a perfect way to maybe explore having your students work as part of a group or team again. They will be definitely exposed to that atmosphere they would experience in the "real world".
If you set up projects on a wiki or blog and assigned students into groups, you could track the amount of work students are putting into it.
Maybe your first group project could entail individual group members being assigned a specific topic area relating to the overall group project. For example, assigning an overall group project of careers and then assigning each person in that group a specific topic such as interviewing, job applications, on-line classifieds, cover letters, etc. Their grade would be based on their area of research as it ties into the entire group and also, the number of responses posted to other wikis or blogs. They may be held more accountable if their thoughts or work are being posted, and you could track their progress.
Just an idea.
Nancy,
I agree that can be a situation that arises when group projects are assigned, that one or two members of the group often do the large load of the group. I know it happens, because I've been in those situations before. However, I've also done group projects that have been very worthwhile and have been a valuable experience. Students need to learn how to work together and collaborate because it is something that many of them will have to do in their careers in some capacity. You just need to be creative in grading, assign certain tasks to divide up the work and give individual grades as well as group grades. Another thing that I did in my undergrad work was that we graded our group members so that if someone didn't carry their load that was one way to make the teacher aware. I know you need to be careful in doing this, but just a suggestion.
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