I've read some material on the design and use of the group assignments (three S's, etc.), but I would sure like to have a better handle on the actual mechanics of reporting and evaluating the group decisions. The document "Designing Effective Group Activities: Lessons for Classroom Teaching and Faculty Development" by Michaelson, et al., takes the position that grading the GAs is not likely to be desireable for a number of reasons. They feel that the social pressure of inter-team discussion of the team decisions is likely to provide the greatest motivation for excellence.

So after getting the simultaneous report of the decisions, I see that I must question the teams and facilitate discussion to bring out the reasoning behind the decisions.

But do you require anything in writing from each team other than yes or no; A, B, or C, or whatever?

Do you find that the open discussion provides enough motivation for excellence, or do you add something else?

Lane
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Lane P. Lester, Ph.D.
Biology Instructor
Southwestern Community College
Macon Campus, Franklin, NC