Keys to individual success and team success in VIP are documentation, teamwork and accomplishments. To this end, the three are weighted equally in grading.
Documentation (33%)
Students are told at the beginning of every semester that if they do not document what they have done – in their notebooks, on their team’s wiki, in a software repository, etc. – then they did not do it. This is a critical point because it makes sure that you do not end up in arguments between students about who did what or whether a student did anything at all. This ability to track what each student does on a team is also critical when seniors on a VIP team are using their activities on the team for senior design credit – please see section the section on culminating design course credit under how VIP credits count.
Teamwork (33%)
Teams need to have some degree of self-management. Experienced students are a useful resource in assisting new students and this relieves the advisor of some burdens in a mature team. This self-management is promoted by developing teamwork and leadership skills. Effective teamwork and leadership include communication, helpfulness, time management, and assertiveness.
As a graded area in VIP, teamwork includes attendance at and participation in team and sub-team meetings, contributions to team presentations, interaction and coordination with teammates, assisting teammates, and participation in the peer-evaluation process. Results of the peer evaluations are an important tool in assessing teamwork.
The peer evaluation and grading software that we have developed at GT is available for any site that would like to use it. We recommend that you use this software or that we all agree to a common set of software tools – because one goal of the Consortium is uniformity of grading processes across VIP sites for the purpose of thorough assessment of learning outcomes in VIP.
Accomplishments & Contributions (33%)
Accomplishments and contributions are easier to identify and describe than teamwork. These include contributions to the progress of the team; graded assignments (quizzes on start-up assignments, presentations), pursuit of knowledge needed for the project and engagement. For more experienced members, this may also include contributions to project management.