Design and Validation of a Web-Based System for Assigning Members to Teams Using Instructor-Specified Criteria

Autor/inn/en	Layton, Richard A.; Loughry, Misty L.; Ohland, Matthew W.; Ricco, George D.
Titel	Design and Validation of a Web-Based System for Assigning Members to Teams Using Instructor-Specified Criteria
Quelle	In: Advances in Engineering Education, 2 (2010) 1, (28 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1941-1766
Schlagwörter	Teamwork; Cooperative Learning; Computer Software; Validity; College Faculty; Measures (Individuals); Internet; Undergraduate Students; Undergraduate Study; Engineering; Engineering Education; Mathematics; Indiana + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Kooperatives Lernen; Gültigkeit; Fakultät; Messdaten; Grundstudium; Maschinenbau; Ingenieurausbildung; Mathematik
Abstract	A significant body of research identifies a large number of team composition characteristics that affect the success of individuals and teams in cooperative learning and project-based team environments. Controlling these factors when assigning students to teams should result in improved learning experiences. However, it is very difficult for instructors to consider more than a few criteria when assigning teams, particularly in large classes. As a result, most instructors allow students to self-select teams, randomly assign teams, or, at best, balance teams on a very limited number of criteria. This paper describes the design of "Team-Maker," a web-based software tool that surveys students about criteria that instructors want to use when creating teams and uses a max-min heuristic to determine team assignments based on distribution criteria specified by the instructor. The "Team-Maker" system was validated by comparing the team assignments generated by the "Team-Maker" software to assignments made by experienced faculty members using the same criteria. This validation experiment showed that "Team-Maker" consistently met the specified criteria more closely than the faculty members. We suggest that "Team-Maker" can be used in combination with the "Comprehensive Assessment of Team-Member Effectiveness" ("CATME") peer evaluation instrument to form a powerful faculty support system for team-based and cooperative learning and for a variety of research purposes. Internet access to both the "Team-Maker" and "CATME" systems is freely available to college faculty in all disciplines by selecting the "request faculty account" button at https://www.catme.org. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Society for Engineering Education. 1818 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 412-624-6815; Fax: 412-624-1108; Web site: http://advances.asee.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01