This presentation is for my Principles of University Learning course at CQU. It aims to answer the critical question - Should group tasks be included in tertiary education? Is the grading for these types of assessments fair?

1. Should group tasks be included in Tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair? Kelly Wilkins – S0185099

2. Encarta Online Encyclopedia (2009) states that Assessment is “.. generally, to make a judgement on a person or situation based on available evidence. Educational assessment is similarly concerned with making judgements about student achievement and progress, although the evidence used has not always been the most reliable. Recently the purposes of assessment have also come to encompass encouraging the process of learning as well as measuring its outcomes—assessment for learning as well as assessment of learning. In this respect, a difference should be noted between what might be termed traditional “examinations”—usually timed, written tests taken under controlled conditions—and “educational assessment”—which can be carried out by a variety of means, including the collection of evidence of routine student performance produced under ordinary classroom conditions. Thus, assessment is generally taken to involve a more holistic and rounded set of activities than simply sitting one-off final examination papers.” Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

4. facilitation,

5. communication,

6. questioning,

7. reporting,

10. “team efforts that involve communication, planning, management and social skills. The modern workplace demands proficiency in these skills, yet historically students have been taught to work and learn on their own. Research on collaborative learning suggests that in the process of collaboration, students are forced to clarify and verbalize their problems, thereby facilitating solutions.” (Kearsley and Shneiderman, 1999)Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

12. The main objections that are made regarding group tasks and assessment are:- Unfair group dynamics, Plagiarism is not as easy to detect, Enabling ‘freeloaders’ to gain higher grades for less work. Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

13. Lecturer or teacher to help choose group members. Students taking ownership of task Even spread of skill level Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

15. All student would have to be happy to take the risk.

16. Plagiarism is more commonly a misunderstanding of referencing or copyright lawsShould group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

18. “Freeloading happens when students in the group benefit from the work of others, but do not contribute significantly themselves’ (Isaacs, 2002).

19. ‘Freeloaders’ receive the same grade with minimal contributionShould group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

21. Explain what is being graded:– Process, Project or both, Assessed Individually or as a group Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

22. Whatthe teacher can do. Introduce Self and peer assessment using a tool like Spark. Spark stands for Self and peer assessment resource kit. “It enables students to confidentially rate their own and their peers' contributions to a team task or individual submissions” (Spark ) Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

24. Written or oral assessment,

25. What the students’ personal contribution was,

26. Strengths and weaknesses of the group

27. The students’ opinion of using group tasks as a form of assessmentShould group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

29. Keep in regular contact,

30. Discuss self and peer assessment. Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair?

31. Group tasks are an exciting and engaging way of assessing students at a tertiary level. Group tasks require trust in students, and can initially be more work for teachers. By establishing a clear criteria for students to follow and including modes of self and peer assessment, the grading of these tasks can absolutely remain fair. Should group tasks be included in tertiary assessment? Is the grading for group assessments fair? YES!

32. Assessment. (2009). In Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Retreived September 31, 2009, from http://au.encarta.msn.com Freeloaders.jpg Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://wiki.couchsurfing.org/wiki/images/1/16/Freeloaders.jpg Group Dynamics.GIF Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://culturewizard.rw-3llc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/group-dynamics.gif Isaacs, G. (2002). Assessing Group Tasks. Brisbane: The University of Queensland . Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999, May 4). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm L. Buxton . (2003 , November 23 ). Group Assessment . Retrieved September 21, 2009 , from University of Essex : http://www.essex.ac.uk/assessment/group_assessment.htm Miller, A., Imrie, B., & Cox, K. (1998). Student Assessment in Higher Education. London: Kogan Page Limited. Plagiarism.GIF Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/abl/quilt/tilt/tilt/module3/images/plagiarism.GIF Spark . (n.d.). Retrieved September 20th, 2009, from Spark - Self and Peer Assessment Resource Kit: http://spark.uts.edu.au/ Students.jpg Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.baylor.edu/content/imglib/62147.jpg Teacher.jpg Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://iteach.org/images/teacher_chalk.jpg References