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Multiple perspective assessment to manage free riders in group work

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conference contribution
posted on 2025-05-09, 00:42 authored by Thayaparan GajendranThayaparan Gajendran, Graham BrewerGraham Brewer, Jamie MacKeeJamie MacKee, Tony Williams
Construction Management programs are expected to train their graduates in evolving new skills, an expectation that has variously stemmed from the rapid recent changes in the construction industry, the need to stay competitive in the education market and to sustain professional accreditation. The need for development of these skills, for immediate employability of graduates and to satisfy the stringent university quality assurance systems, has demanded change in course delivery methods. Among the graduate skills, the ability of students to work in teams has gained momentum in construction education. Developing and assessing team-working skills presents many challenges that need to be given careful thought before engaging. The ‘free rider’ problem, which occurs when one or more team member(s) does not contribute passably in terms of comprehension or learning process in a group project, causes serious concerns about the quality of graduates. If group work assessment is not carefully designed the two main objectives of an assessment system, namely to foster student learning and knowledge accreditation, may not be attained. This paper identifies the issues associated with group work design and assessment, and propose two alternative multiple perspective assessment methods, ‘peer evaluation/meeting log’ and ‘peer review’, to combat the free riding problem.

History

Source title

AUBEA 2004: Higher Education Shaping the Built Environment: Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference of the Australian Universities' Building Education Association

Name of conference

AUBEA 2004: 29th Australian Universities' Building Education Association (AUBEA) Annual Conference

Location

Callaghan, NSW

Start date

2004-07-07

End date

2004-07-09

Pagination

35-45

Editors

Gajendran, T. & Runeson, G.

Publisher

University of Newcastle, Centre for Infrastructure and Property

Place published

Callaghan, NSW

Language

  • en, English

College/Research Centre

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

School

School of Architecture and Built Environment

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