An individual assessment technique for group projects in software engineering

Abstract

We present the history behind organising and assessing group projects in software engineering at Teesside Polytechnic. We describe why our initial plan in 1987-88 was seriously deficient in the objective assessment of many of the desirable attributes of a good software engineer. We review how we overhauled our method of setting and monitoring goals to create a cost-effective structured learning environment, and how we modified the industrial audit and review procedure to become our tool for individual assessment and performance/learning feedback. Details of the goals and their assessment are given. This methodology for the conduct of Honours-level group projects is commended as good educational practice.