When is it Appropriate to Use Group Assessments? 

When to Use Group Work? 

Group work should be considered when one or more of the following criteria are met: 

• Group work will clearly assist students to meet learning objectives. 
• The task requires cooperation for successful completion i.e. the task can only be carried out by a group – such as when students work as a management team or are required to assign roles to group members. 
• The task is too large or complex for one person. 
• Resource limitations require group work – such as in the case of limited equipment or a limited number of ‘real’ clients. 

Why Use Group Work? 

Well-designed and conducted group work can enhance learning and student performance. More important from the student’s point of view, it can also help students to develop a range of communication and planning skills that are attractive to employers. 

Group work can potentially develop the following skills transferable to the workplace: 

• The ability to listen to others and evaluate different points of view. 
• The development of cooperation and planning skills. 
• The development of leadership and shared leadership skills. 
• The ability to work on large and/or complex projects. 
• The ability to work with individuals from a range of cultures and backgrounds. 

These kinds of important personal qualities, alongside specialist knowledge, are also reflected in the Graduate Profiles. 

   

To Determine When to Use or Assign Group Work: 

1. Complex Tasks: Assign group work for tasks that are complex and benefit from diverse perspectives and skills. 
2. Limited Topics: Use group assignments when there are a limited number of project topics available to distribute among students. 
3. Learning Enhancement: Employ group work to enhance learning through discussions, explanations, and collaborative problem-solving. 
4. Task Complexity: Reserve group assignments for tasks that require different skills or expertise that individuals may not possess alone. 
5. Relationship Building: Utilize group work to foster relationships, teamwork, and communication skills among students. 
6. Preparation: Before starting group work, ensure members know each other, establish ground rules, understand the task, and define roles. 

Group assignments should be used judiciously, considering task complexity, learning objectives, and potential benefits for students. 

Challenges of Group Work 

While group assessment can have many intellectual and social benefits, it is also one of the most challenging and contentious forms of assessment. Typical challenges include: 

• Students have mixed views on group work. Some find it useful, while others see it as busywork. 
• Students often lack group work skills, leading to problems in groups. 
• Unequal contribution is a common cause of conflict in groups. 
• Cultural differences can be mistaken for laziness. 
• Group work assessment can be time-consuming for lecturers 

Group Work Assessment 

Given the potential challenges of group work assessment, it is essential that the lecturer spend time inducting and supporting group work and designing the group task and the method of assessment. 

Inducting and Supporting Group Work 

• Students might lack group work skills and need training. 
• Dedicate class time for forming groups, setting expectations, and planning meetings. Use icebreakers to help. 
• Group size and composition should fit the task and student abilities. 
• Students can use various communication methods, including online tools. 
• Teams can choose a leader or delegate tasks without one. 
• Prepare students for conflict and provide clear procedures for addressing it. Some conflict management training might be helpful. 
• Lecturers should dedicate time to building group rapport and identity. Activities can focus on content or group effectiveness. 
• The lecturer plays various roles: forming groups, organizing, mentoring, mediating, and advising on problem-solving. 
• While some group work can be done outside class, scheduling in-class sessions allows monitoring progress and intervening if needed. 

Note: This resource deals exclusively with in-class, on-campus group work. However, for those who may have a virtual group, the same principles apply. For information on this approach see for example Collis (1999). 

What is the Purpose of the Group Assessment? 

It helps students develop generic skills such as teamwork, communication, and project management skills while engaging in the group process, which are valued by many employers and important for students’ future in the long term. 

What Type of Assessment is Group Assessment? 

If developing teamwork skills is one of your learning objectives for the course, then your assessment should assess both the process (how students work in the group) as well as the group’s product (the work they produce as a group, such as a paper or presentation) 

What are the Four (4) Kinds of Assessment? 

A Guide to Types of Assessment: Diagnostic, Formative, Interim, and Summative. Assessments come in many shapes and sizes. For those who are new to assessment or just starting out, the terms can be hard to sort out or simply unfamiliar. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of groups? 

Advantages of group work:

• Group work improves teamwork.  
• Group work expands learning.  
• Group work enables students to see new perspectives.  

Disadvantages of group work:

• Uneven division of work. 
• Conflict with other members.  
• Hinders individual learning. 

What are the Specific Advantages of Group Assessment? 

Group mark with peer-adjusted individual grade* 

• Perceived as fairer than single group mark. 
• May motivate students to contribute more. 
• Students develop skills in constructive criticism and diplomacy. 
• Students better understand their own performance by assessing others attempts. 

What are Examples of Assessment? 

Some examples of course assessments could include discussion, observations, exams, papers, reflection questions, in-class student responses, etc. What is evaluation? Evaluation is used to judge the learning that has occurred.