Everybody:

 

Note:  This is in an introductory biology class of 150 (25 teams).

 

This problem was brought to me by a student today and doesn't seem to be a result of a poorly designed assignment.  One student in a team feels like he is "carrying the weight" for his team on some assignments, particularly on  team RATs.  The grades do support his argument to a degree.  To this point they have completed 3 RATs and he has the highest average on individual RATs, but there is no clear break between him and the other students.  Two other students in his team are right behind him.  Thus I feel like this is a psychological problem more than a real "social-loafing" problem.  

 

Do any of you have special techniques that you use to defuse these psychological problems?  I was just thinking of moving up the mid-course peer evaluations, so all of the other members know how he feels. 

 

Dan
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Daniel Williams
Department of Biology
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460-8042
(912) 478-7794
Fax: (912) 478-0845