I feel strongly that students receiving the *written* feedback is the most important part of the experience.
For a student to hear:
"Please come to class more often"
or
"Please speak up more--you're almost always right when you do!"
or
"You're an awesome asset to this team."
or
"Please be a bit more flexible and listen to other peoples' views."
. . . from one's *peers* and not from the authority figure in the room can nudge them into a real personal reflection on how they operate interpersonally, how they are seen by others, and consequently how they see themselves.
Without giving them this opportunity, I can see how students might just see the peer evaluations as an opportunity to report on/rat out their team-mates.
When you complete the loop and let them actually communicate the feedback to one another, it adds a dimension of learning to the class like nothing else. I strongly recommend you figure out how it would work best for you to them one another's written feedback. It builds community.
By the way, don't worry so much about using pre-determined the grade weights. I recommend folks do that the first time or two they teach using TBL. It's one less "new thing" to worry about overwhelming you or--worse--confusing your students. Once you get the bigger pieces dialed in and running smoothly, then you can play with letting the teams set the grade weights.
Everyone's implementation process is different.
Some of us are pinky-toe-till-it's-comfortable, some of us are "CANNONBALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!" *splash*
-M
-----Original Message-----
From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Connors
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 10:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How I handle team evaluations at UTPA
I also put the team evaluation form on Bb as an assignment. Students
complete the form and turn it in through the appropriate assignment
link on Bb. I do not accept them late. Completion of the evaluation
form counts toward both their individual grade and team maintenance
grade. (I know it is not in the true spirit of TBL but I have pre-
determined grading for the class: 70% = individual performance; 20% =
team performance; 10% = team maintenance.)
What I have not done is return comments to all students. I have made
comments available to students on request - i.e., they come to my
office and I share the comments with that individual student.
Since I am flying blind with TBL (kinda making it up/adapting it as I
go), team evaluations is the area where I have the most concerns
(hence my original question about asking how others handle these
evaluations). To date I have not had any complaints but I wonder if I
am doing the teams a disservice by not sending the feedback from their
peers out to them whether or not they want it. What is at risk vs.
what can be gained?
Tim
On Apr 8, 2010, at 11:07 AM, Sweet, Michael S wrote:
>> "It is very easy - I put the file on blackboard for them to
>> download."
>>
>
> So, am I right in reading this that you put the blank peer eval form
> on Blackboard, they download it and fill it in, then they send it
> back to you?
>
> How long do you wait for late folks to get theirs in before sending
> out what you have?
>
> -M
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Erica Hunter
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 9:24 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: How I handle team evaluations at UTPA
>
> I also do this. I tell them to do honest and constructive feedback
> because
> their teammates might not know that they are doing something bad
> (what?
> texting all period annoys my team?). It is very easy - I put the
> file on
> blackboard for them to download.
>
> Regarding nasty comments, I haven't had this issue. I do tell them
> that if I
> find their comments inappropriate they will be asked to redo them
> and they
> will be considered late. I have a pretty stiff late penalty (2
> points off
> final grade) and have NEVER had an issue with bad comments.
>
> Erica
Timothy D. Connors
Professor of Theatre
Central Michigan University
Office/Voice: 989-774-3815
Fax: 989-774-2498
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