iGeneration Conference

© Loughborough University 2009

…enables every team member to recognise individual contributions to group work

Nicola WilkinsonSupporting the iGeneration, University of Ulster,22 January 2009


A well known criticism of assessed group

work is that each student receives the

same team mark, regardless of

individual performance


By using WebPA to peer assess group work, each student received an adjusted mark

Marked by students, the people that know!


1998

History of WebPA

Paper based system

20082007

open to all at Loughborough

University

2005

JISC WebPA project

20062002

PASS System

Became WebPA

2004

Open source version of WebPA


It is a sophisticated, yet quickquick and easyeasy to set up

a formativeformative or summativesummative assessmentassessment.

How do teachers benefit from using WebPA?


FlexibilityFlexibility to create assessment criteria, scoring ranges and groups to suit the way you teach, in any any subject disciplinesubject discipline



The generation of individual student marks

is automated using a researchedresearched and trustedtrusted

method.



Students are involvedinvolved in the assessment process, reflectingreflecting on their own and their peers’ performance

How do learners benefit from using WebPA?


It is a fair and confidentialconfidentialway of assessing individuals

within group work activities



It positively impacts upon individual performanceperformance and team dynamicsteam dynamics, enriching the overall learning experiencelearning experience.



Case Study: Geography (Remote Sensing & GIS ) • 90, 2nd year undergraduates

• teams of 5-6, in streamed groups reflecting ability

• looking at process

• provide students the identified skills required by employers

• students produced a higher standard of course work

To what extent were you and your group members 'team players'?

Team dynamics:

To what extent were you and your group members prompt at arriving for meetings, emailing information, or phoning etc?

Time management:

To what extent did you and your group members keep in touch with each other during the project?

Communication:

Online at: http://www.webpaproject.com/?q=node/358


Case Study: Information Science

• 80, 2nd year undergraduates

• Self-selected groups of 3-5

• Looking at the process of the group work

• Reflective learning and peer teaching

1 Little input provided

5 Provided good design input - considered options

Provided input to the design/concept generation of the database

1 Provided few suggestions, did not perform tasks

5 Provided a lot of input and delivered top quality work

Contributed effectively to the work of the group

Online at: http://www.webpaproject.com/?q=node/382


“Overall, marking is honest and credible”

Dr Keith PondBusiness SchoolLoughborough University

Dr Carol RobinsonAssistant Director (Teaching and Learning) Mathematics Education Centre Loughborough University

“Students are much more satisfied – complaints have almost disappeared.”


Student Experiences

• Would like to leave justification of scores given in the assessment (feature added after research carried out)

• Enhances deeper reflection• A wish to know what their peers feel about then

through the tool (feedback mechanism)


The student perspective

• 12 departments over 3 faculties (8.5% response rate)

• 79% happy to self assess (11% unhappy)

• 87% happy assessing peers (7% unhappy)

• 70% happy with peers assessing them (17% unhappy)

• 63% believe the assessment is fair (19% unfair)


“Some of the best modules during my degree were group based modules. The combination of the team working and the peer assessment was a great introduction to working in a team within industry.”

Alan Curtis Research Engineer

JCB Power Systems Ltd


"WebPA is now embedded in our first year and will be for the next five years. Typically 180-200 students will be subjected to.. [WebPA] ..every year."

Dr Bob Cherry Manchester Metropolitan

University

“We are impressed with the success of the WebPA project and the impact on group work in higher education.”

David KernohanProgramme Manager

eLearning Team JISC


Project Website: www.webpaproject.comwww.webpaproject.com

WebPA Demonstrator: http://webpaos.lboro.ac.uk http://webpaos.lboro.ac.uk

WebPA mail list: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/WEBPA.htmlhttp://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/WEBPA.html

Contact email: [email protected] [email protected]