An analysis of team projects outcomes from student and instructor perspectives in online computing degrees

Nkaepe Olaniyi; Douglas Millward; Cathryn Peoples

doi:10.2478/eurodl-2023-0001

An analysis of team projects outcomes from student and instructor perspectives in online computing degrees

European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning

Volume 25 (2023): Issue 1

By: Nkaepe Olaniyi , Douglas Millward and Cathryn Peoples

Open Access

|Mar 2023

Abstract

One of the core aims of higher education degrees is to provide an environment for students to acquire essential skills that will help
them in the workplace. Team working is one of those essential skill and it is also one that experience and research show is regularly
resisted by students. This resistance can become even more amplified when the degree is delivered online, although some have
pointed out that a good team provides much-needed community spirit and support in such environments. The purpose of this study
is to review the delivery of a team assessment format that has been specifically designed for the online environment. The results presented provide insight into the student’s perspective on the delivery as well as the reflections of the instructors involved in the
delivery. The overall outcome is positive for both parties and provides further guidance on implementation to ensure the pedagogical
design continues to be viable. This includes insights into team composition, instructor involvement, and peer review scoring formats.

References

Chang, Y., & Brickman, P. (2018). When group work doesn’t work: Insights from students. CBE Life Sciences Education, 17(3), ar52. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.17-09-0199
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chapman Learning Commons. (2016). Working in groups [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Accessed January 16, 2022. from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIp_kFR5_jc&t=91s.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cheryan, S., Master, A., & Meltzoff, A. (2015). Cultural stereotypes as gatekeepers: Increasing girls’ interest in computer science and engineering by diversifying stereotypes. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 49. https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2015.00049
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Chiriac, E. (2014). Group work as an incentive for learningstudents’ experiences of group work. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 558. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00558
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Falls, I., Bahhouth, V., Chuang, C., & Bahhouth, J. (2014).. Sage Open, 4(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014525415
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fini, E. H., Awadallah, F., Parast, M. M., & Abu-Lebdeh, T. (2018). The impact of project-based learning on improving student learning outcomes of sustainability concepts in transportation engineering courses. European Journal of Engineering Education, 43(3), 473–488. https://doi.org/0.1080/03043797.2017.1393045
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Freeman, S., Theobald, R., Crowe, A., & Wenderoth, M. (2017). Likes attract: Students self-sort in a classroom by gender, demography, and academic characteristics. Active Learning in Higher Education, 18(2), 115–126.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gardner, B. S., & Korth, S. J. (1998). A framework for learning to work in teams. Journal of Education for Business, 74(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832329809601657
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hiter, S. (2021). What are CIOs looking for in current IT grads? Accessed January 22, 2022. https://www.cioinsight.com/careers/traits-cios-are-looking-for-current-it-grads/.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hosam, Al-S., & Noria, S. (2018). A systematic review of cloud computing tools for collaborative learning: Opportunities and challenges to the blended-learning environment. Computers & Education, 124, 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.05.016
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Huisman, B., Saab, N., van Driel, J., & van den Broek, P. (2017). Peer feedback on college students’ writing: Exploring the relation between students’ ability match, feedback quality and essay performance. Higher Education Research & Development, 36(7), 1433–1447. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2017.1325854
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Morrison-Smith, S., & Ruiz, J. (2020). Challenges and barriers in virtual teams: A literature review. SN Applied Sciences, 2, 1096. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2801-5
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Olaniyi, N. (2020). A survey on the use of e-Portfolios as a form of assessment in online computer science courses. In M. H. Miraz, P. S Excell, A. Ware, S. Soomro, M. Ali (Eds.), Emerging technologies in computing. iCETiC 2020. Lecture notes of the institute for computer sciences, social informatics and telecommunications engineering (p. 332). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60036-5_19
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Maimbo, H., & Pervan, G. (2005). Designing a Case Study Protocol for Application in IS Research. Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems. Accessed 22 January 2022. https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/45440.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Peterson, A., Beymer, P., & Putnam, R. (2018). Synchronous and asynchronous discussions: Effects on cooperation, belonging, and affect. Online Learning Journal, 22(4), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v22i4.1517
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pursel, B. (n.d.). Groups vs. teams. Accessed January 22, 2022, from https://sites.psu.edu/schreyer/groups-vs-teams/.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). (2019). Subject benchmark statement: Computing (Master’s). Resource document. Accessed January, 22 2022, from https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/computing.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Race, P. (2001). Assessment Series No.9: A briefing on self, peer and group assessment. Resource document. Learning and teaching support network. Accessed January 16, 2022, from https://phil-race.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Self,_peer_and_group_ assessment.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Riebe, L.,Roepen,D.,Santarelli, B., & Marchioro, G. (2010). Teamwork: Effectively teaching an employability skill. Education + Training, 52(6/7), 528–539. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911011068478
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Russo, D. & Stol, K.-J. (2022) Gender Differences in Personality Traits of Software Engineers. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, vol. 48, no. 3, 819-834.https://doi.org/10.1145/2955110
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Smith, G., Sorensen, C., Gump, A., Heindel, A., Caris, M., & Martinez, C. (2011). Overcoming student resistance to group work: Online versus face-to-face. The Internet and Higher Education, 14(2), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2010.09.005
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Teaching and Learning Services. (2018). Using peer assessment to make teamwork work. Resource document. Teaching and learning services, McGill University. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.mcgill.ca/tls/files/tls/tls-group-peer-assessment-resource-doc-oct-2018.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Teaching and Learning Services. (2021). Designing peer assessment assignments. Resource document. Teaching and learning services, McGill University. Accessed January 26, 2022, from https://www.mcgill.ca/tls/files/tls/tls_designing_peer_ assessment_assignments_-_march_2021.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS). (2020). Guidelines on course accreditation information for universities and colleges. Resource document. Accessed January 22, 2022, from https://www.bcs.org/media/1209/accreditation-guidelines.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Thorn, M. (2020). Are group assignments effective pedagogy or a waste of time? A review of the literature and implications for practice. Teaching Public Administration, 38(2), 257–269. https://doi. org/10.1177/0144739420904396
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tucker, R., & Abbasi, N. (2016). Bad attitudes: Why design students dislike teamwork. Journal of Learning Design, 9(1), 1–20.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
University of Waterloo. (n.d. - a). Centre for teaching excellence—Making group contracts. Accessed September 16, 2021, from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/group-work/making-group-contracts.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
University of Waterloo. (n.d. - b). Centre for teaching excellence—Methods for assessing group work. Accessed September 24, 2021, from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/group-work/methods-assessing-group-work.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Vera, F. (2021). Considering the effects of computer scientist stereotypes on mental health. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 40(3), 53–59. https://doi.org/10.1109/MTS.2021.3104403
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Vivian, R., Falkner, K., & Falkner, N. (2013). Analysing computer science students’ teamwork role adoption in an online self-organised teamwork activity. In ACM International Conference Proceeding Series (pp. 105–114). https://doi.org/10.1145/2526968.2526980
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Vogler, J. S., Thompson, P., Davis, D. W., Mayfield, B. E., Finley, P. M., & Yasseri, D. (2018). The hard work of soft skills: Augmenting the projectbased learning experience with interdisciplinary teamwork. Instructional Science, 46(3), 457–488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-017-9438-9
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wildman, J., Nguyen, D., & Duong, N. (2021). Student teamwork during COVID-19: Challenges, changes, and consequences. Small Group Research, 52(2), 119-134. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496420985185
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wilson, K., Brickman, P, & Brame, C. (2018). Group work. Life Sciences Education, 17(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.17-12-0258
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Yin, R. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eurodl-2023-0001 | Journal eISSN: 1027-5207

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 1 - 15

Published on: Mar 14, 2023

Published by: EDEN Digital Learning Europe

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

International distance learning,

Team/group work,

Postgraduate,

Social constructivism,

Peer scoring,

Synchronous teaching and learning

© 2023 Nkaepe Olaniyi, Douglas Millward, Cathryn Peoples, published by EDEN Digital Learning Europe
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 25 (2023): Issue 1