Module 3 Blog Posting: Assessing Collaborative Learning
Participation in a collaborative learning community should be assessed by group and individual achievement. The rubric for assessment should include individual and group assessments. Palloff and Pratt tell us that while assessments are teacher directed, “collaborative activities are best assessed collaboratively”(Palloff and Pratt, 2005) Even so, students should be given a chance to assess themselves and their peers. A time for self-reflection should also be a part of the assessment.
All students should show growth from the beginning of the project through to the end. The varying levels of skill and knowledge should show an increase based on the exercises given in the course. Assessing each student’s level of learning in a “fair and equitable” way is always going to be based somewhat on teacher judgment, but that judgment based on a given rubric gives at least an even chance of fairness as all students know and can use the rubric to pace themselves and check their own work.
James Atherton suggests giving students individual assignments and collective grades for collaborative projects. He gives suggestions with reasons for allocating particular grades to groups and group work. Collaborative assessment has to have a pre-established rubric from the onset with all stakeholders aware of the grading system and consequences for not cooperating. I took issue with his suggestion that the teacher give a grade for collective work and let the participants divide it up among themselves based on their particular contributions.
If networking and collaboration is a part of the course, the reluctant student has a choice of not signing up for it. The role of the professor is that of one who gives the final word on the maverick’s non-participation. He can insist through personal communication, that reluctant student can choose to drop the class, fail, or participate to the best of his/her ability.
The assessment plan of the professor should incorporate a rubric that clearly shows the individual and group requirements. I do not feel that the rubric should change for the reluctant participant. With the goals of the class clearly spelled out, the means of achieving those goals are also spelled out. Building trust, cooperation, and an online community through collaboration are all a part of the learning process which gives all participants an enriching experience.
References:
Palloff, R.M. and Pratt,K. (2005) Collaborating online: learning together in community.San Francisco. Jossey-Bass.
ATHERTON J S (2009) Learning and Teaching;Assessment: collaborative [On-line] UK:http://www.learningandteaching.info/teaching/assessment_collaborative.htm"Accessed:11 October 2009.
I like the idea of team members giving a grade for each other as well as the teacher. Who better to judge on a group effort than the people you work with. But I do think that you would need a rubric, sometimes when we grade others we grade them on our ability and we forget everybody's ability is different.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Shauna.The rubric is key.Sometimes the interpretation of a rubric can get variations, but at least there would be a common meeting ground.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I agree with Atherton in regards to giving the grades on collaborative work either. I agree that there should be rubrics to follow for discussion boards such as Walden does, but what about the course work that is dependent on others doing their part. The blog is an example of team members not doing their share. There are a number of people who still have not established their blog, which limits the number of teammates that can be responded to each week. Do you think the members that post their "blogs" on discussion boards on cafe sites should get the same grade you do and do you feel an obligation to search for their blogs?
ReplyDeleteI also like team members grading each other along with the teacher for group projects. It should should be a simple assessment - like did the group member complete the assigned tasks: yes or no. If the answer is no, then further comments should be made to the professor.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the blogs, we have no control over people doing their assignments correctly. I personally wouldn't search for the blogs, but I would email my classmate and offer them help if they weren't sure of the assignment. As far as grading the assignment, I wouldn't give them the same grade, because obviously if they're posting it to the discussion board they weren't following directions.
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