Peer assessment of team work and collaborative learning in construction/civil engineering

Abstract

Recently, employers have indicated that they are not totally satisfied with the individualistic approach of the average engineering graduate. This may be due to the fact that in many companies team goals, team contributions, and team rewards often supersede individual actions. The findings of a past study suggest that students have accepted the concepts of collaborative teaching and learning, as well as team projects. In fact, many believe that these concepts develop critical thinking and leadership skills. However, this investigation of the peer assessment process suggests that not all students are doing their share in team work projects. Unfortunately, this is a problem with team assignments that may be difficult to solve. Nevertheless, comments indicate that a course utilizing the concepts of collaborative learning and teamwork was interesting, informative, and could be of assistance to respondents in future endeavors. This paper discusses these concepts. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2008.