Management of group projects Group work, under proper conditions, can support student learning and be a positive experience. Under less than ideal conditions, however, it can become the vehicle for acrimony and conflict. It may also impose a host of unexpected stresses on, for example, students with overcrowded home and work schedules living long distances from the University. If employees in the workplace, for example, are unable to deal with a problem they are expected to take it to someone who can deal with it. Students may be consulted before rules are finalised but University policy requires that all students receive written notification of any changes in assessment procedures following such consultation.
Students travel to the university from diverse locations.
Many work either part time or full time, many are parents, often single parents, and have other commitments which make it difficult to attend the University outside of scheduled class hours. In units that use group methods of assessment it is therefore recommended that some scheduled class times be dedicated to group meetings. In any case, in-class supervision and discussion of group assignments should be built into the schedule of classes in a way that reflects the weighting of assessment allocated to group work. The weighting for group assessment in the determination of unit grades requires careful consideration, keeping in mind the sections of the Code which require unit coordinators to ensure that they can judge the individual contribution of each student and that grades properly reflect the levels of performance of each student. Group assessment, like any assessment, should meet the criteria of rigour, validity, fairness and appropriateness to the unit objectives.