Report Structure

The group report must be based on a standard report structure (i.e. it should have an Executive Summary and include a set of Recommendations).

Section Structure

Executive Summary

Introduction

1               Sections in Main Body of the Report

2

3

4…

N

Conclusions

Recommendations

References

Appendices

Notes:

The Executive Summary, References and Appendices do not count towards the overall word limit of 3000 (+/- 10%).

The structure of the main body of the report, as well as the length of each section, is for the Group to decide .

Assessment Criteria

The following generic criteria will be applied in grading the report:

1. Clarity of expression

2. Logical structure of report

3. Clear problem defined

4. Accurate analyses of data

5. Logical interpretation of data, results and source materials

However, the following Table provides a more detailed assessment rubric to give you a better idea what we are looking for:

Group Report Assessment Criteria

Working in Groups: Success in Group Work: Effective Teamwork and Project Management

Group Project Arrangements

By the end of Week 2 you should arrange yourselves into groups of 4-6 students. You should do this proactively, do not wait for someone to invite you.

Ideally, we are looking for groups of 4 or 5, but 6 is the absolute maximum number of students per group.

Once you have established your group, one group member should email me with a list of the group members (names and student IDs).

The Team Leader should also notify the Course Coordinator, via email, of any subsequent changes to group membership.

If, by the end of Week 2, any students have not been able to find a group the Course Coordinator will assign students into groups on a random basis.

Each group is to appoint a Group Facilitator/ Team Leader. This individual should be the one to           communicate with the Course Co-ordinator if any queries/ problems should arise. However, other     Group members can also contact the Course Co-ordinator if there are any queries/ problems relating to the group they wish to discuss.

Once you have established your groups you should meet (online or in person) to discuss and               complete the Pre-Project Action Plan. The form is provided below and is also available on the course Canvas site. The form should be completed and emailed to the Course Coordinator, by the Team       Leader, by the end of Week 4.

The report is to be submitted by the Team Leader (only), along with a Groupwork Assessment Cover Sheet with the Group name (i.e. A, B, C … etc), names and student number of all group members.       Students whose name and student number have not been included on the Cover Sheet of the Group Project Report will receive a mark of zero.

TO BE CONFIRMED: SPARK - Self and Peer Assessment:

Please Note: We will decide whether or not to utilise SPARK by the end of Week 4. If we do then:

A single mark is initially given for the group assignment. This mark will be then moderated by "self and peer assessment" using the SPARK software so that individual group members may receive     different marks. Any moderated individual mark received by each group member is based on         contribution to the assignment and, more importantly the ability to work with others.

Individual group members are required to submit a self and peer assessment through SPARK within  24 hours of the Group Report submission date. Failure to complete SPARK, without valid reason, will result in a mark of zero. The criteria for the self and peer assessment are found - along with the         instructions on how to use SPARK - on Canvas. Please note: NO SPARK NO MARK.

Guidance on the use of SPARK can be found in the following link:

https://uonspark.wordpress.com/

1.    PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF GROUP WORK

A common requirement, when applying for a position/job at all levels of an organization, is to be     able to demonstrate your ability to work productively as part of a group or team. It is likely that you have already studied the benefits of teams as part of your degree including productivity and              achieving common goals. Likewise, in an academic environment, studying collaboratively can            enhance outcomes. Students learning from one another benefit from activities that require               articulation and peer review of their knowledge.

2.    GROUPWORK FOR ECON2002 ASSESSMENT ITEMS

In ECON2002, for assessment item 2, namely the Group Report you will work as a group. You will      assume the role of a team to work together professionally. The group shall normally consist of FOUR or FIVE (5) individuals. You are responsible for joining and forming your group. Group members         should exchange contact details and formulate and agree on a Pre-Project Action Plan (see form        below and available on Canvas). The Pre- Project Action Plan records agreement to member roles,    group rules, task allocations and responsibilities, and also records agreed project milestones. The      Pre-Project Action Plan should also address how problems and issues, should they arise, will be          managed.

The group agreement, and plan, is to be completed, signed by all group members and provided to the learning facilitator via email by the end of Week 4.

Following are some helpful CTL resources for the action plan and general conduct of group work include:

• Pre-Project Action Plan: please see relevant form for completion at the end of this document. You can also find the document here:

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/businesslaw/resources-staff/teaching-and-learning/

• Templates for Managing Teams: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/businesslaw/resources- staff/teaching-and-learning/ASSESSMENT

In general, by the time this course is undertaken, students should have developed the skills and          capacity to manage their own group plans, meetings and processes. Accordingly, assessment focuses on group outcomes rather than processes.

3.    CONFLICT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

For adverse circumstances (AC), please follow the AC process or contact the Course Co-ordinator.

Group work functions best when everyone participates actively and equally in the development of    the project. However, sometimes there may be a need to address situations where one or more        members do not attend meetings or complete work. In the first instance, such issues should be         resolved within the group. The Pre-Project Action Plan should include details agreed at the outset to cover such possibilities. The plan notwithstanding, students should familiarize themselves with the   relevant University policies in terms of the equity and respect that should be afforded to all                members of our academic community. Some useful resources regarding potential problems include:

• Dealing with freeloading – Assessing group tasks pdf – scroll down to page 17

http://www.tedi.uq.edu.au/teaching/assessment/groupass.html

• Dealing with conflict, absence and non-cooperation

www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/aqp/appendix/10/app10b.doc ]

If the grievance issue cannot be resolved within the group, the next step is to discuss the situation with the Course Co-coordinator. All members of the group may be required to attend these            meetings and furnish appropriate records in order to ensure all team/ group members are treated equitably.

Effective Project Management

How your Group operates is up to you – as a group – to decide. However, many (but not all) of the techniques involved in project management can be applied in the context of student group work.

A set of introductory learning materials designed to assist you in the effective management of your groupwork project will be made available via Canvas.

Feedback

The single (i.e. overall) ‘group’ mark given for the group report will be available via Canvas within 15 working days of the report submission date. Qualitative feedback on the report will also be provided (via Turnitin on Canvas).

Assuming we opt to utilise the SPARK software, the report marks for each group will then be        adjusted based on your "self and peer assessment" outcomes (using the SPARK software). These individual marks will then be made available via Canvas by Monday of Week 14 – so that you will have all your coursework grades before taking the Final Exam.

ECON2002 Intermediate Macroeconomics

Group Pre-Project Action Plan

Group # ______________________________

1/ Our group, listed below, has agreed to research and analyse the following country:

___________________________________________________________________

(We understand that approval is required from the facilitator to make any changes to this selection).

Group Members

2/ We have agreed upon our grade expectations for this assessment item:

YES/ NO

3/ We understand that this assessment is a team effort and the grade will initially be awarded equally, but that grade adjustments may be made based on the use of the SPARK Peer Assessment software:

YES / NO

4/ We agree on the following course/s of action should a potential problem arise noting that, for all events, in the first instance we shall first inquire about the team member’s personal circumstance and /or health, safety and wellbeing and offer support as might be appropriate. We also agree to treat each team member with dignity, courtesy and respect and function and behave in accordance with the relevant University policies.