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Hi everyone,

I noticed something new this semester in my class that I would like some
advice on. This is my fourth semester using TBL, the class is Intro
Sociology. Overall, the class is going fantastic - low resistance, teams are
active in discussion/tasks.

The "issue" I've noticed is that I have students leaving during the appeals
portion of the RAT/RAP process. They will do the iRAT and gRAT and leave a
member or two to write out the appeals. I can see looking at this two ways:

1. Teams should do them together - it's part of the process. If they want to
leave early, then the team should turn their folder in and leave. It isn't
teamwork or fair to leave someone to do the appeals, esp. if other members
don't help formulate the arguments/benefit from the learning that happens there.

2. Teams should be "left alone" to manage their work as they want. If they
are okay with settling appeals and then someone volunteers to do them so the
rest can leave, who am I to get involved with the team dynamics (the "hands
off" approach). 

The only thing I don't know is if it is the case where someone is left
getting "stuck" on their own to do appeals to raise the score or if they
talk about the appeals but decide they don't need to watch someone write
them up. Any thoughts/advise on this situation would be appreciated! 

Also, some background, I don't have a scoring machine for iRATs and the time
limit in my classes doesn't allow me to review the RATs/mini-lecture until
the next class. I see how having a mini lecture right away could help, but
it isn't possible this semester with the time slots I have for the sections
- one is only 50 minutes long and the RAT is down to 10 questions. 

Thanks!

Erica Hunter
University at Albany