Assessing Collaborative Efforts

Working collaboratively together in a group can be hard and challenging. Today's learning environments are full of individuals with diverse backgrounds, education level, skills, and personalities. In order for us to be successful, all parties involved must be willing to put asider differences and work together with the common goal of finishing whatever task is before the group. We must realize that being different is not all bad, there is some positivity that we can get out of it. Being different can mean that we thinki differently, therefore the doors are open for new ideas and alternative ways of getting the job done. We can all learn from each other .

Students are evaluated and graded according to their participation, whether individually or in a group. Also, their grades are affected by what the assignments that are being submitted in the class. Actively participating in all assignment and not being late is ver important with online assessment. Because of othe varying levels of skill and knowledge that diverse students bring to a course, the instructor's "fair equitable assessment" of learning should be a combination of individual growth and participationn, as well as the quality of the work that they submit.

Having lack of participation between members of a group who are assigned to complete an educational project is not uncommon. There is always someone who does not want to work in a group of who does just enough to get by and get a passing grade. The other members of the group should proceed with the assignment completing their parts and the person that is lacking to get their full points in the class. It benefits them best, because they will fully understand what is being taught and the processes that were taken to complete the assignment. The person or persons who was lacking will not understand what was done nor would they be able to present the finish project. I have also been made aware that lack of participation does not mean that team member is refusing to do the work, but sometimes it may mean that the individuals may not know what to do or how to do it, because of their lack of understanding. Sometimes it may take the other members in the group to assist their team members in completing their part of the project.

The instructor should indicate what he or she is expecting, when they are expecting it, and what they are looking for when they get the finished project. The guidelines that are set by the instructor are what he or she will use to evaluate and assess the group. Changes in the assignment, may be made depending on the feedback received from the group projects. Also, they instructor must monitor the progress of each group, but it is up to the group to get the project done. The team members must work together collaboratively deciding who is to do what, when, and how. Making decisions as a group and working together are the ultimate goal of collaboration.

Emmorfia