42% of the student’s grade depends upon group work?

Referring to the flow chart of second quarter assignments, it can be seen that there are assignments totaling 231 points in the second quarter.

Assignment Type	Points I-G	Per Cent	Other Considerations
major tests	45-0	19	These are high pressure assignments. The two tests, a mid quarter test and the midterm are worth 20 and 25 points. The mid-quarter test is an [S] test, meaning the student can only retake 10 points of the test. The first 10 points stands after the first taking. The second test, the midterm, may be repeated and raised during the third quarter, but the fact that it is a midterm examination and is at the end of the quarter produces considerable stress. Nevertheless, these tests account for only 19% of the student’s grade.
quizzes	45-0	19	Each of the nine 5-point quizzes has an accompanying worksheet with problems and solutions so the student may practice the particular skill. The quizzes are taken by the student on request, are computer graded, usually within moments of the student having completed the quiz, and may be retaken any number of times during the quarter, with only the last grade counting. Students frequently come in during their free periods for these quizzes which take approximately half an hour to complete. See the chemistry quiz rules for more information.Assuming students have not let these little quizzes accumulate until the last week of the quarter (some do!), these are very low pressure assignments. See also How do we construct repeatable quizzes which are computer graded?
worksheets	20-31	22	It would be more realistic to consider all 51 worksheet points to be group assignments in the sense that students are free to, and certainly do help each other out while working on the assignments. However, in some of these assignments, students will use their own individual evidence meaning that their worksheets will be individual.
spreadsheets	10-4	6	There is one individual 10 point spread sheet worksheet meant to insure that each student can use spread sheets. The other spreadsheet points come from inserting their experimental data into already existing spreadsheets. Given the fact that help is available, these assignments are also very low pressure.
labs	15-56	31	Here again, students are free to help each other out on all 71 points, however there is one 5 point assignment in which each student must explain the reasoning behind the solution to a lab problem. This is a little stressful for some, but most are pretty casual about it. There is another 10 point individual assignment in which students work together but collect individual data.
lecture	0-5	2	Just presence and attention at the lecture guarantees these 5 points
total	135-96	58-42	While most of the assignments are low pressure assignments, there are a lot of them and most students fall a little behind and develop their own pressure.

So then, if the grading scale involves so many group projects, and if the design of this grading scale emphasizes reducing stress, how then can we maintain individual accountability and prevent students who do not understand the material from merrily continuing in the course with high grades and no understanding?

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