Group assessments
Organised group assessments are part of many undergraduate and taught Masters programmes at the university.
What are group assessments?
Group assessments may require you to report on your group’s progress, give a peer review or a self-review, or produce a presentation or report by the end of the project.
When working on a group assessment it is important to discuss and agree your ways of working together before plunging straight into the learning task. This approach will help you to avoid common problems that take lots of time and emotion to resolve.
Ways of working
Setting ground rules
- Arrange meetings throughout a project, whether longer meetings or short check-ins
- Meetings can be held online or in-person
- Make sure meetings have a short agenda (list of topics) so you know what will be discussed
- Make sure someone takes notes in a meeting, so you know your next steps
Organising your time
- Plan backwards from any deadlines that you have set
- Allow some ‘buffer time’ before the deadline in case of delays or technical faults
- Discuss what tools to use to arrange meetings and to communicate e.g. MS Teams, WhatsApp
Holding meetings
- Arrange meetings throughout a project, whether longer meetings or short check-ins
- Meetings can be held online or in-person
- Make sure meetings have a short agenda (list of topics) so you know what will be discussed
- Make sure someone takes notes in a meeting so you know your next tasks
Resolving difficulties
- Consider first at if you need to change the tasks you have set within the group – could they be made more simple?
- Try giving members of the team places where they can share and discuss difficulties that is not face-to-face
- If you cannot resolve difficulties, talk to the module convenor or lecturer
Continue your journey
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Further support
Disability support services
Language and communication skills