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Tim:
We encountered the same problem with our TBL course (120 students).  We then instituted a policy that students must achieve 70% average on individual exams for the group work grades to factor into the final grade.  Now, if a student does not achieve a 70% average on exams, then the group scores do not factor in, and the course grade is based only on the individual exam scores.  I'm not sure what you can do about this for this semester, but it may be helpful to place a similar policy in your syllabus next time you teach this course.
Ed Bell

Edward Bell, PharmD, BCPS
Professor of Clinical Sciences
Drake University College of Pharmacy
515-271-1841

________________________________________
From: Team-Based Learning [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Connors, Timothy [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 5:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Determining Final Grades

I know many on this list are, like me, in the last gasps of the semester and have either too little time or too much grading to do but I'm hoping I might get some advice on determine overall course grades.

I have been experimenting with TBL for a couple of semesters now and I've run into a situation with one particular class where  Team Activities and Team Maintenance points are the only things helping some students get a passing grade.  Maybe that is appropriate but it doesn't "feel" right.

The class set the grade scale as:  65% Individual, 10% Team Activities, and 25% Team Maintenance.  The end result is that I have 2-3 students who are receiving failing grades for individual work but high passing grades for the Team based work.  I do not have a "must pass individual to pass course" clause in the syllabus nor did I predetermine the total number of points possible prior to the beginning of the semester.

Have others encountered the same thing?  Am I looking at things sideways?

Thanks.

Tim

P.S.  I'd also like to talk to someone who is using TBL in theatre, literature and/or history classes that i can steal ideas from.

Timothy D. Connors
Professor of Theatre
Central Michigan University

Office/Voice:  989-774-3815
Fax:  989-774-2498