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Case Solved
Lazy Group Members

There is an issue I have observed in a high school classroom in which students were split up into groups of 6 to do a collaboration project outside of class. In one group, only two members were participating while the other 4 did nothing. Time is ticking and the project due date is quickly approaching. The two participating members of the group have expressed to the teacher their frustrations with the lazy group members. They have tried reaching out to the lazy group members, but they are still not participating. What should the teacher do?

Posted on: 02/26/17 | Views: 1958
Solution #1
Top Solution
The teacher should give individual grades as well as a group grade. The group grade tells how well the project was done, but the individual grades reflect the participation levels of each member of the group. That way, the lazy students are not rewarded for the work of others. It is a good idea to have the students rate each other, so that the teacher can give fair participation grades. A scale of 1-5 is ideal. 1 being made the least amount of effort and 5 being the mos amount of effort.

I agree with this. The lazy students should receive the grade that reflects the amount of effort they put into the project (which was little.) This will teach these students that being lazy will not get them far and hopefully it will motivate them to do better next time.

This is a great solution I would also use if I was in that situation.

This is exactly what I would do. Grade the project as a whole, but then give them individual grades, to show that their laziness, affects their grades.

This solution would work very well.

This is a very good idea. Group and individual grades would be very motivating to students.

I love the idea of giving a group grade as well as individual grades. This should be clearly expressed on a rubric that the teacher gives to students so they know what is expected

I agree that this would be a good solution for this problem. Being a part of a group is a responsibility and it is important that these students learn this. The use of students rating their team is particularly high, and I agree that this will help the students to understand.

If I were in this situation I would do exactly this. Students need to be held accountable for their actions.

I fully agree that we should individually grade students, not everyone puts in the same amount of effort.

I agree with this solution!

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Solution #2
Top Solution
I do not have experience with this, but if I were the teacher I would first try talking with these four students and expressing that if they do not participate they will not receive credit for the assignment. If they still choose not to participate, they must deal with the consequences and receive a zero. In the future, I would pair the students that typically do not participate together, that way they will be forced to complete the assignment since they will not have the luxury of other students carrying their weight for them. Again, I don't have experience in this, because I'm just a student myself, not a teacher yet, but I would just start by approaching the students about the problem. Sometimes just making students aware that you're watching them closely and that there will be consequences may motivate them to participate.

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this

I agree with this solution!

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Solution #3
The teacher should break the project into smaller assignments that have due dates as well. When there is a large project due, it is common for students to procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get started. When working with peers, this not as easy to do as when working alone because not every student is the procrastinating type. If the teacher breaks the project into smaller assignments with due dates, then each member of the group will be motivated to start on the project.

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this

This is a difrent approach that i have seen some teachers do. I personally like it.

I agree!!!

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Solution #4
I would ask for everything to be assigned to each person, and present as a group, but get a grade individually based on the work each student completed.
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Solution #5
In this situation, I would recommend an individual rubric for each student. This will make it easier to determine which student made the appropriate amount of effort in the group project.
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Solution #6
I've had this happen to me personally very many times. The few teachers who actually actively did something about it chose to contact those group members and let them know that if they do not help out at all, then their grades will reflect that. So, they would get zero points for the zero amount of work they did. A lot of teachers I know actually have a sheet filled out after every team-based assignment in order to assess who did what and any thoughts about their team. This gives a chance for the students who are more scared to approach the situation head on to let the teacher know.
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Solution #7
I would give individual group grades as well as a group grade. Allow for students to rate or evaluate their group members too.
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Solution #8
Just give a grade to those who did the work and fail those who didn't. I would only do that once you reach out to the students who aren't doing anything to make sure for yourself that is the case. Have each member turn in their individual section to you by a certain date. If they send nothing (cause they did nothing) they receive an "F".
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Solution #9
In this situation I would provide specific roles for each student within the group. This would eliminate the students in the group determining the roles of each group member. In a normal situation students would be able to assign or determine their own roles but when there are students who are not participating the teacher needs to take action. In addition to the specific roles of each group member the teacher can grade the students on an overall group performance and an individual group performance. This is also eliminate the non-participants receiving a grade for work they did not do. Lastly, if the students are being held down or feeling distracted by the non-performers they should be allowed to remove them from the group. The teacher should be prepared for this and determine the best possible solution for placement in other groups.
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Solution #10
Just give a grade to those who did the work and fail those who didn't. I would only do that once you reach out to the students who aren't doing anything to make sure for yourself that is the case. Have each member turn in their individual section to you by a certain date. If they send nothing (cause they did nothing) they receive an "F".
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Solution #11
In a situation like this I think the teacher should base the grades individually rather than a group grade. This way each student in the group is responsible for their grade. So if a student is lazy and not pulling their weight, only their grade will suffer.
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Solution #12
The teacher should break the project into smaller assignments that have due dates as well. When there is a large project due, it is common for students to procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get started. When working with peers, this not as easy to do as when working alone because not every student is the procrastinating type. If the teacher breaks the project into smaller assignments with due dates, then each member of the group will be motivated to start on the project.

This a good idea. Creating smaller assignments and groups could help with the laziness issue.

Love this! not everyone puts in the same effort.

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Solution #13
Have the students be graded by a group grade and their individual grade from presenting the project. Also, have the students take a project quiz where they rate the work the other group members did.
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Solution #14
I think this is a situation that can occur often in any group assignment setting. I have actually been in such a situation. Unless the teacher gives each person in the group specific instructions, than there is no real way of ensuring that equal parts will be divided among the group. A syllabus with each students tasks should be written.

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this

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Solution #15
In addition to lowering grades and grading the individuals as well, if the teacher does participation grades for each day, I would lower daily participation grades if the students are continuing to not cooperate and work with their other group members.
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Solution #16
If I were in this situation, I would give each student there own grade instead of the whole group also I would make sure everyone had an equal part in the assignment.
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Solution #17
To help solve this issue, the teacher should grade each student by the work they did. If a students didn't include themselves they shouldn't be given credit! Or, when assigning a group project, there should be an assigned equal part for each student to complete.
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Solution #18
High school students are old enough to realize what is right and wrong. The teacher should either have the students grade each other on participation and list their role in the group. This is what most of my teachers did in both high school and college. However, there are some disadvantages to this because students are not honest sometimes and get a grade they don't deserve. Another solution could be, if the group members are still complaining about them, to have the lazy students leave the group and have them work on the project themselves.
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Solution #19
The teacher should be observing the way that all of the group members are working and assign them individual grades. The teacher could also have the group members rate each other's work ethic throughout the process (in a confidential way) to help her determmine grades.
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Solution #20
I believe that the teacher should reach out to those students not working, and let them know they will lose points for not working collaboratively with their teammates. And if that doesn't work let the working members know that they won't be penalized for their lazy teammates.
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Solution #21
In group assignments there usually is individual and group grades. Each student should have a role in the group assignment and a title like recorder, researcher etc. If none of this is set up to individualize grades it is hard for grading and for students to know what they are responsible for. I think the teacher needs to set up a checklist of sections of the assignment that are due on specific dates a rubric is also helpful. This way the students who procrastinate will be addressed right away instead of after the majority of the project has already been done by the other group members.
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Solution #22
Make sure the students that do not work and are lazy get different grades.
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Solution #23
If you see this going on I would stop having group projects and make them do it on their own. Or if you know what students are doing all the work you can give all of them the credit and tell the other group members in order to get points they need to do it on their own and turn it in. Or make assignments not multiple choice and they can have answers the are the same word on word answers.
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Solution #24
I have personally had this happen when I was told to group work in high school, and other group members would not give their fair share or nothing at all. I would suggest to have separate grades for individual and group work, which is what I had in high school. This way the students who did their work will get the grade they deserve and the others will get the one they deserved. Another thing is to have the students in the group rate each other for the group work part.
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Solution #25
If they don't do the work, they don't get credit. You've reached out to them and they still aren't doing the work. They won't get a grade for it.
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Solution #26
I would break the assignment into two grades, one for the actual final product and then one for participation in the project. Have the students grade each other for who did what and see the outcome. Tell the students this so they feel inclined to participate.
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Solution #27
I feel like you could separate the group. Take out the students who are being lazy and make them work together. Something else you could do is grade them based on if they helped or not.
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Solution #28
Ive done many group projects when I was a student, and one of the best things I've seen is for each student to anonymously report how much they feel they contributed to the report and how much their teammates have. Cross referencing these, as well as assigning individual grades, can greatly assist adjusting points according to how much each student assisted and benefitted the project. Some students only do a small section but an important one, like presenting the project, but usually other students will still report a satisfactory performance.
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Solution #29
I think the teacher should try giving individual grades as it pertains to this group work. Teachers overall have the ultimate say in what grades they give and if the other group members have expressed their concerns about others not doing any work than this calls for a group meeting where the teacher sits the group downing discusses it or the teacher can pull the students not working and tell them they need to complete an alternative assignment to get credit.
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Solution #30
The teacher should start grading them individually. Something that works is to divide the work up for the group and for each student to submit their parts on their own before it is put together for a complete group assignment. Giving the group a private review would also help so that students can privately rate their group members' participation honestly.
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Solution #31
I think the teacher should have the students fill out a participation reflection of them selves and their group members and have this be part of thier grade.
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Solution #32
I think you can have the students grade each other on terms of effort, amount of work done and so on. Then give the students a grade based on the participation said by their group mates.
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Solution #33
Give students individual but equal tasks so that they can get individual grades.
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Solution #34
Just as professors do in college, students should be able to rate each other's participation in the group work. There should be a group grade as well as an individual grade based on the other group members feedback.
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Solution #35
I would have pier grading as part of the project grade in order to keep all members of the group accountable.
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Solution #36
All students should have a specific role. These should be outlined on paper so they are held accountable for their portion of the assignment. If these students do not complete their part, they will receive a pre-determined consequence.
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Solution #37
I think that the teacher needs to address the four lazy group members and if they still do not contribute, then they need to be graded individually on their parts of the project.
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Solution #38
The teacher needs to confront the kids who are not helping and tell them that they will be receiving a zero on the project and will have to do an individual make up project alone.
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Solution #39
I would at this point give the participating members an altered way to finish the project if necessary and then instruction the four girls that they would now have to do the project by them selves. Make sure that the group was not being punished but that you thought this would produce better results from the 6 students
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Solution #40
Individual grades are the way to go. I have been victim many times to lazy group members and have suffered because they did not do their part well or even at all. Another option is to recognize who the lazy members are and pair them in a group. They will realizer that nobody is doing anything and that they have to step up. It is a lesson of responsibility. Put all of the participating and active students in one group.
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Solution #41
Have students initial next to their part of the project and let them know that the ones who do not participate will get a zero. You could also try pairing the students up in different groups each time to see who works better with others.
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Solution #42
If said students did not participate in the group work, then they will not receive a grade for the project. I would also pull those four students aside and let them know they will not receive a grade if they continue to not put in effort or time.
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Solution #43
Have you tried the jigsaw collaboration strategy? It works wonders! Everyone of the members have a specific job they are suppose to complete. Maybe even give the group time in class to talk about what they should be working on with their project. Put an emphasis on the importance of having the project done completely, but only grade individuals based on the work they have been assigned to complete. This way, students do not get frustrated with one another and the people that put work into the project do not carry all of the work load.
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Solution #44
if the students are not going to participate in their group work and make one student do all the work then they need to do the work individually. if they are not helping then they should receive a 0 because it is not fair to the student that actually did the work.
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Solution #45
It is good to know who is participating in the projects and if you visually see the students who are actually putting in effort into the assignment then they should get individual scores for what they accomplished and should not get penalized for the other students lack of participation. Instead, remind the other students that it is a team effort and if no effort is put in then their grade will suffer.
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Solution #46
Assign each student in the group a specific task they are in charge of completing and if they don't they will receive a 0.
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Solution #47
Just give a grade to those who did the work and fail those who didn't. I would only do that once you reach out to the students who aren't doing anything to make sure for yourself that is the case. Have each member turn in their individual section to you by a certain date. If they send nothing (cause they did nothing) they receive an "F".

If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this

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Solution #48
My recommendation is that next time you have the students grade each other in participation with you giving the final grade. This can be in check mark form for each student to grade everyone in the group. This way the students know coming into the project that they will need full participation to pass the project.
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Solution #49
This should mean the students who did not partake in the project, should not get a grade for the project. This is unfair. This needs to be handled and their are about 1000 solutions.
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Solution #50
Simply just rearrange the groups, you should have an idea what the students are like. Disperse them evenly in the groups. The lazy people, The hard workers, and the ones that just Tagalog.
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Solution #51
Just assign different tasks for different people.
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