Group Work?…does it really benefit in a University environment?
May 28, 2007
My current project was to desgin a computer game using either using Flash or Unity. My group went for Unity and Cinema 4D, and we all worked really well together. But in the end to product we produced was only worthy of 58%.
It’s a disappointing mark, and one that i felt didn’t reflect the sheer amount of effort and teamwork that was eventually put in by my own group.
Our peer assessment marks were all really good as we all got on and worked well together, all putting in the effort to produce soemthing. However I know of other groups where other members of their group simply did not put in the same effort, or even turn up at all!
It seems unjustified that these people should share the same mark, when they clearly don’t merit the mark they evetually recieve.
Peer assessment is designed to balance this injustice, but can only do so to some extent.
Why not have a sign off system where, seperate deadlines and tasks can be signed off when completed by each person?
Just the thought at the beginning – spending 12 weeks with 3 other people, working on the same thing felt a bit nerve raking. However, in the last 2days, there was some solid work to be done. In the end, I felt it wasn’t perfect like with most of my work so far, but it was working. Our group got 69% in the end. I’m surprised that your group didn’t get a higher mark. It’s a shame I never got to play it in the end. Your group appeared to be well organised with great little characters! I loved the idea. Ours was just weird.
About the peer assessment mark, I thought I would have received a higher mark. I think I only got 54% something like that? I put so much effort into the project all the way through. But I guess it was evident someone must have had a problem with me. I’m not sure whether that came from the gruelling last couple of stressful days at the end, or not? The peer assessment is a tricky one. I don’t think it ever comes out the way you want it to, unless of course your all good friends, I guess.