To tackle the problem on 'how will marks be distributed', you may encounter different kind of issues in different classes you have taught. Some of you may have considered peer assessment or examining the design of assessment criteria. In order to make assessment more reliable, you may even request students to explain or justify their contribution by submitting a reflective note.

Your decisions on the issues below will determine how effective this assessment is being used:

• What is going to be assessed, the product of the group work, and the process of that group work, or both? [It is understood that it is much easier to mark the group product (i.e. the quantity and quality of the work done by the group) rather than the group process (i.e. teamwork skills and interaction).]
• How will the assessment criteria be made? [It is welcomed by all if the group work is being assessed according to a set of criteria that everybody can understand.]
• Who will apply the assessment criteria and determine the marks? [You are perhaps not the only assessor of the group work if you think about using peer and self assessment.]
• How will marks be distributed? [This is a student's major concern. It is critically important to give fair marks.]

However, teachers and even students themselves think group work can be problematic. Would you like to include some other points that concern you with this type of practice?

You may share others’ viewpoints on this issue in our Online Forum.