Tips for Grading Group Work
Kathleen McKinney, Cross Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching
and Learning and Professor of Sociology
Illinois State University
- Spend a lot of time explaining, both verbally and in writing, why you are doing
group work, what are the academic (and other) goals and objectives of the group work,
and why it is important for the students. Acknowledge and discuss with students some
of the problems with group work.
- Use the "ticket in." Require students to work individually outside of
class on the group assignment (e.g., complete a worksheet, write and/or answer discussion
questions) and to bring their individual work to class. This serves as their "ticket
in" to the group work. Students without their ticket are not allowed to participate
in group work that day.
- Assign (or have students select) group roles for each student (e.g., convener,
scribe, presenter…). Rotate these roles periodically. This helps keep all
students active in the group and encourages them to develop different skills.
- Both verbally and in writing specify and discuss the grading criteria you will
use based on your objectives. Consider letting students have some input into these
criteria before they are finalized. Student control increases the sense of ownership
and responsibility the students will have for the group activities.
- Require a brief, written division of labor report from each group (how often did
they meet, who was present, who did what parts of the group project or assignment).
This reminds the students who is and isn’t doing their share and gives you
information to use when grading.
- Consider the use of peer input into the students’ grades (e.g., 20 percent
of the grade is determined by peer ratings). Students can rate other group members
on specific or global items. Students can rate other groups on presentations.
- Consider basing each student’s group grade on a combination of the group
grade and an assessment of their individual work or effort (you can use the division
of labor report, peer ratings, and "tickets in" to determine the individual
grade portion).
- Consider IF you want to grade the group work; it may make sense to be ungraded
group work.
