The Practice
Group assessment is widely used at all levels in the Mechanical Engineering programme. There is strong research supporting its benefits but, although there is a significant literature on group dynamic theories, there are few studies about what occurs in groups during their work and the factors contributing to successful groupwork in engineering. The main objective of this research is to better understand the ingredients for successful group work from a student perspective: learn about their positive and negative experiences and how they evaluate their own and other’s contributions when working in groups. With this better understanding, we aim to co-create, alongside students, guidelines for both academics and students setting and undertaking group work
Findings
Students’ ability to work improves and their experience improves during their degree. 3rd and 4th students have proposed a framework for enhanced experience.
The Impact
We have produced an internal guidance document for enhancing the experience of students working in groups. This has been shared with the Head of School, the School Education Director and the Project leads. Unit with projects are being redesigning at present, considering the suggestions given by the students. Note all students in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, well over 2,000, take these units.
From this work, an undergraduate 3rd student was produced a thesis that is also informing future steps. This undergraduate project focused on gender and inclusivity.
The results of the research were presented in:
- BILT’s 2024 annual conference ‘Voice and Choice – Student Agency, Empowerment and Co-creation’. By 3rd Engineering Students Natalie Hanea.
- BILT Show Tell and Talk workshop: Assessment design and feedback by Alicia Gonzalez-Buelga. October 2024.
- BILT Show Tell and Talk workshop: Assessment design and feedback by 4th Year Engineering Student Ekow Abankwa. May 2024.
Next Steps
We are writing a paper, this should be ready by summer 2025.
Contact
Alicia Gonzalez-Buelga: ceagb@bristol.ac.uk
