Improving Group Member Participation of 4th Year Civil Engineering extension Students in integrated Project Work at Debre Markos University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Group work is a form of voluntary association of members benefiting from cooperative learning, which enhances the total output of the activity. Therefore, group discussion is a way for active participants to explore new ideas. Based on the previously observed practices in 4^th year civil engineering students at Debre Markos University, the group member participations was not pleasing. The objective of this study was to identify the core causes of low participation of group members in their project work and to take actions for improving group member participation. The data collection method used questionnaires and interviews and was analyzed using Microsoft Excels. Action research done in civil engineering 4^th year Extension courses focused on continuous advising and instruction. These practices have achieved a good understanding of how to increase active participation in their group work activities. Therefore, a main conclusion of this project is that an active learning method helps the students to share skill, knowledge and attitude to each other.