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Strategy 3: Assess group work

Assessing the group process encourages students to become aware of the dynamics of their group – how tasks are approached, methods of problem solving, and the productivity or otherwise of interactions and contributions.

What should be assessed in group work?

What are the options?

Getting the assessment right is critical. Decisions need to be focussed around four factors:

  • What is to be assessed? Product? Process? Both? What proportion of marks for each?
  • What criteria will be used to assess the process? The product? Who will determine this criteria - lecturer, students or both?
  • Who will apply the assessment criteria and determine marks? Lecturer? Students? Peer and/or self-assessment or a combination?
  • How will marks be distributed? (shared group mark, group average, individually, combination?).

What aspects of the group process could be assessed?

Groups are often more motivated and successful when students are invited to contribute to assessment criteria. When developing these criteria, ensure they are aligned with the learning outcomes. Assessment of process could include things such as:

  • adoption of group roles and responsibilities
  • regular meeting attendance
  • equity of contribution
  • appropriate time and task management
  • application of creative problem solving
  • use of a range of working methods
  • appropriate level of engagement with task
  • development of professional communication skills
  • evidence of capacity to listen
  • responsiveness to feedback/criticism.

How could you assess these skills?

With group work assessment, there are often complaints about the unfairness of the marking. Clarity regarding the allocation of marks is important. Will you be allocating marks to the group as a whole or to the individuals in the group? Or both? Consider the following methods of assessing group process skills:

  • Individual’s reflective journal on the group process (lecturer/tutor assessment). Be clear about focus of writing and provide a rubric See Learning Lab Reflective Writing
  • Peer review and peer evaluation
  • Self-assessment
  • Presentations by individual students.

Assessment rubrics for group work

There are numerous rubrics for group work. Your choice of criteria and scales depends on your particular project but the following Rubric Directory provides a choice of rubrics you can use for peer, self and group evaluation: California State University, Fullarton, Mihaylo college of Business and Economics, Assessment and Instructional Support: Rubric Directory/ Peer Evaluations, People Skills (collaboration, working in groups) https://business.fullerton.edu/Assessment/Rubrics