I have been baby-stepping my way into TBL over the past year but now  
feel like "going all the way."  I could use some advice/examples on  
how to implement a couple of things I have not yet done.  The class I  
will be doing this with is an upper division undergraduate course in  
theatre history that is required of all theatre majors and minors  
(virtually the entire class will be majors or minors).

The first of these is grading.  Up to now I have pre-determined the  
grading system:  70% individual; 20% team; 10% team maintenance.  I  
want to allow the class to determine the grading this Fall.  Would it  
be out of line for me to establish a minimum % for each of these  
(e.g., minimum of 50% individual, 10% team, and 5% team maintenance)?   
If I don't establish minimums, what kind(s) of issues might I  
anticipate?  How are stalemates resolved?

Also, drop/add for the class won't be over until after the third class  
session (course is MWF, 50-minutes per class).  It seems unfair to  
wait until the 4th class session (after the deadline to drop) to  
determine the grading system.  And I have an "intro to teams" activity  
I want to use during the first week.  Should I make temporary teams  
for grading and the first activity, or make permanent teams and hope  
that a bunch of people from one team don't drop?

And, lastly, does anyone have a student handout and/or intro to TBL  
presentation they use in your first class session that you would be  
willing to share?

Thanks very much.

Tim



Timothy D. Connors
Professor of Theatre
Central Michigan University

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