Individual assessment of group projects in software engineering: a facilitated peer assessment approach

Most qualifications in computer studies and computer science in the UK include a group work component. Employers consider team working and communications skills as essential for potential employees, and the group project is seen as a vehicle for developing these skills in students. A problem arises however when the individual assessment of student contribution to the group is required. The paper explores the ways that are currently used to allocate individual grades to a student, and proposes an alternative approach. Facilitated peer assessment is a process that supports students in their own decision making in a way which extends the learning opportunity into and through the assessment exercise. It provides an equitable distribution of marks in a way that is congruent with the pedagogical objectives of the group work exercise.