🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <15...@haddock.ima.isc.com> br...@ima.isc.com writes:
>
>Hmm. We solved this problem in a rather simpler, more effective and realistic
>way. First, accept the fact that in nearly every area of human endeavor, 
>some people like to work together. This is also the way that most projects in
>the real world work. Second, accept the fact that students are going to
>work together. It is how many people can learn best. Solution: simply have
>group assignments. Tell the class that they can work together in any size
>group that they wish, but that they have to tell you who was responsible
>for what (at least approximately), and that the larger the group, the better
>you expect the program to be. 
>
> [...]
>
>Is there any excuse for maintaining the sanctity of individual work 
>at the college level?

Yes.  I teach at Pitt, which has a *large* commuter population.  Many of my
students work at home most of the time, and don't really know any of their
classmates.  These students are at a tremendous disadvantage in any group-
project environment, and usually end up getting stuck with the deadweights of
the class as partners.

I agree that many people learn better in groups, and so on.  Unfortunately,
there is no way to provide even approximately equal group environments for 
all the people in the class.  Also, not all groups are as "self-policing" as
yours seemed to be.  I had considerable difficulties last semester with one
student who was attempting to get his/her friend through school by doing his/
her work... 

The idea of expecting higher quality from larger groups is a good one, but in
practice it could be a nightmare trying to compare essentially incomparable
projects, and assign an equitable grade to each.


-- 
        David M. Tate       | "The concept of weight of evidence was central 
  dt...@unix.cis.pitt.edu   |  to my first book, and occurred also in at least
                            |  32 other publications [of mine].  What I say 33
 "A Man for all Seasonings" |  times is true."          -- I. J. Good.