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Send to friendA group project - fairly assessing individual contribution
72-90 students, groups of three students.
To determine the relative contribution of each student and to ensure active group participation in a major assessment item for this unit (40%).
Kinesiology is a core unit for the Bachelor of Human Movement, Exercise Science, Medical Imaging and an elective in Health Science. Students undertake a group assignment that allows in depth exploration of the topic, while staff manage the marking of a large piece of work for a growing cohort of students. Students are encouraged to use the steps of planning, reflection and presentation as an outline to completing this unit.
Planning
The students choose colleagues to work with (groups of 3), select a complex motor task, collect movement analysis data to compare two performances from a biomechanical and functional anatomy point of view.
Group communication is included as a unit learning outcome in the unit outline.
Allocation of tutorial time (for three weeks) with definite guided performance outlining: the roles that each student will undertake; the part of the assignment that they will be responsible for; meeting times; a timeline for data collection; and, resources required (groups to complete and submit to tutor - examples attached for week 1, week 4 and week 9). Groups select their own leader; this role is recognised in the workload of the group.
Reflection
Individual reflection (self and peer - within group). Each student receives a mark for the entire written submission (25%) and an individual mark (10%) allocated after the student has submitted a reflection on their contribution, and the contribution of other members of the group. Each student allocates themselves and the others a mark out of ten. This is used by the assessor as a guide to determine their mark. The quality of the overall submission and the part of the assignment that has been allocated to this student is also considered with his/her reflection when the final mark is determined.
Presentation
The assignment presentation format usually consists of a written piece of work, supported with diagrams and pictures, but may be submitted in a PowerPoint with video inserted to assist explanation. One group of students made a website. As well, students present a summary (verbally) of their project to the whole group - all members must contribute in this forum to achieve marks (5%).
Students who do not contribute end up with poor marks. A significant essay length question on the final examination requires students to be able to use knowledge gained in all sections of the assignment (not just their own) to perform well.
The individual mark will be more strongly linked to the section of the assignment that they have nominated responsibility for.
