Post-graduate Collaborative Assignment

Terri GrantProfessional Communication Unit School of Management Studies

BACKGROUND

PG Dip Programme regarded as mini MBA

4 major specialisations on offer

Many non-Commerce undergraduate degrees

Disparate group of students in terms of race, gender, age, nationality, language (many ESL students)

PROBLEM FOR PCU

Our course is a 2-credit core course offered across all 4 specialisations

Focus is on business communication and career development

Seen as ‘soft option’ and ‘extra’ to the diploma

Mediocre quality as priorities shifted to special field deliverables

WHAT TO DO?

THE COLLABORATIVE ASSIGNMENT - How to: ‘Work smart’ Build collegiality Align and integrate PCU course Focus on WAD Simulate the work

environment Build capacity Provide support and

‘scaffolding’ for weaker students

We needed a good idea!

PCU could act as a pivot: This would:

Centralise course (& communicative competence) as a hub for all diploma special fields, thus foregrounding the importance of communication in the course & workplace

PCU

EM

HR / SM

M

TM

Collaborative assignment topics: how this worked

Mixed groups were established (race, gender, language, etc.) within 4 specialisation areas

These groups stayed intact across 3 semester core courses [Business Communication & Career Development (PCU), Entrepreneurial Strategies (ES) and Business in Context (BIC)]

PCU negotiated topics with 2 other course convenors to devise an ‘a’, ‘b’ & ‘c’ for each topic

Topic areas displayed on notice board and online Groups had to select focus area on first come, first

served basis and put down 1st and 2nd choices Once finalised, groups were given the go-ahead!

Example: one focus area = 3 topics for 3 courses

3 a. ES: Analyse the extent of economic development from 2 major recent sporting events (e.g. Olympic Games, Soccer World Cup). What can we learn from these two cases and how can lessons be applied to the 2010 SA World Cup. (Report)

3b. PCU: The advent of the World Cup in South Africa brings with it a myriad of business challenges and opportunities. As a SA entrepreneur, how could you take advantage of this sports event? Outline your concept / product / service to the organisers and include how your proposal will contribute to the success of such an international event. (Business proposal) 

3c. BIC: The World Cup is meant to bring upliftment to the poor in South Africa while at the same time servicing the needs of wealthy foreign sports fans. How have major sports events brought poverty alleviation in the past to other countries, and how have they also failed in this mission. How can a South African company ethically benefit from the World Cup? (Paper or essay)

 

FACILITATON PROCESS INPUT LECTURES (Guest speakers) leading

to….. WORKSHOPS (PCU staff) resulting in …… GROUP MEETINGS (on their own or with

staff by arrangement) giving rise to…… REPORT BACKS leading to …… FEEDBACK and eventual delegation of

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Written projects Group oral presentation

PCU RESULTS 

Figure1: Lowest marks obtained in 2004 – 2006 with

examination improvement being the most dramatic.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percentage obtained

2004 2005 2006

Date

oral

written

exam

Box diagram comparison (1)

Figure 2: A comparison of mark range from 2004 – 2006 in all three assessment areas

020

40

60

80

2004 2005 2006

Oral WrittenExam

Box diagram comparison (2)

Figure 3: In final examination as well as oral and written year mark, the 2006 mark

range was shorter with no students getting below the cut-off of 40% and no failures.

020

40

60

80

2004 2005 2006

Exam Marks by Year

40

50

60

70

80

2004 2005 2006

Oral Marks by Year

50

60

70

80

2004 2005 2006

Written Marks by Year

Course assessments Over 80% of course assessments were

positive with students using descriptions such as “valuable to course and career”; “worthwhile”; ”learnt so many new things”; “realistic”; “powerful, relevant, supportive course”; “structure was perfect”; “comfortable” “helpful and inspiring”; “excellent” program.

Just over 10% had mixed feelings as found approach quite daunting and about 8% found course more stressful than helpful. (Most of these had team problems.)

2006 & beyond

Sport Management replaced HR as a Diploma (2006).

Collaboration has grown to include most core course convenors who contribute research areas to me at the start of semester.

We separate these into assign-ment components and manage the programme and process.

More work for me at the outset but far better integration and alignment with core course subject matter.

Suspected and real problems

Too much of a good thing? (complacency)

Boredom with same research topics -they may “re-hash” topics rather than “re-engineer” them intelligently

If group conflict / boredom, etc. this carries over into other courses as groups remain the same

Although weaker students supported, can this be construed as “riding on the coat tails of stronger students”?

Find a balance Assignment type (What

makes up the portfolio?) Size of work unit (Is it

individual, buddy or group?)

Assessment criteria (Who assesses? How? When?)

Thank you.

Any questions ?