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Assessment Types

Managing Groupwork

Key Points

Steps to take to for groupwork assignments:

  • Understand the assessment requirements,
  • establish the groups groundrules,
  • allocate and monitor tasks, and
  • attend meetings and have regular contact with your teams. 

Groupwork first steps  

The first step to take is to obtain a thorough understanding of your assignment and the group work required. Read the assignment description and marking rubric, and ask your lecturer/tutor for more information if required to clearly understand:

  • how students will be allocated to groups
  • what the group is expected to produce
  • how the task will be assessed
  • what proportion of the mark will be based on the group’s performance versus individual components
  • what proportion of the mark will be based on an assessment of the product of group work versus the process of the group work

Managing groupwork 

Establish ground rules: Allocate tasks and monitor progress Attend meetings and maintain regular contact
  • Discuss and decide on rules
  • Write down rules together
  • Create a group chat
  • Analyze assessment requirements
  • Discuss and plan group approach
  • Assign tasks and responsibilities
  • Set clear targets and timelines
  • Create a google doc to track progress
  • Schedule regular progress review meetings
  • Discuss challenges and plan next steps
  • Review meeting schedule for adjustments
  • Use technology (Zoom/Teams) for online meetings and communication.
  • Discuss and solve issues promptly

 What you can do if group members are not participating/contributing 

If you're feeling like some members of your group aren't contributing enough , here are some steps you can take:

1.Communicate openly: Initiate a conversation with your group members to express your concerns in a respectful and constructive manner,  discuss potential solutions together.

2. Set clear expectations: Establish clear roles and responsibilities for each group member from the outset of the project. Define specific tasks and deadlines to ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them

3. Be accountable: Regularly check in with your group to monitor progress and address any issues that arise. If certain members are consistently not meeting expectations, discuss the impact of their actions on the group's overall success and brainstorm ways to improve collaboration

4. Document contributions: Keep track of individuals contributions in a shared document 

5. Seek assistance if needed: If you're unable to resolve the issue within the group, don't hesitate to seek assistance from lecturer, tutor, unit coordinator or Learning Advisor to discuss a plan of action to avoid your group falling apart and not completing the assessment.

Remember, effective teamwork requires open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the project's success. By addressing concerns proactively and working together collaboratively, you can help ensure that everyone's contributions are valued and acknowledged appropriately.
 

Further Resources

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