Complete thesis - Murdoch University

the students have the possibility to increase theircommunication skills and how to deal with a problem within agroup. Another advantage of this Course has been the smallgroups which have increased the benefits of the points mentionedabove.Because both groups decided to work in the Studio Lab (rather than finding other workspaces during class time), whole-of-class discussions were spontaneous and occurred morefrequently than in previous years. However, some students would have liked more:Alaina There could have been more time to discuss a topicin whole class. As we are divided into two groups, I felt I wasseparated from the other group and it would be better if therecould be more opportunity that enables to share information withthe other group’s membersDermot I would be inclined to change the way the tutorialsare conducted, to provide one day maybe for teaching theconcepts, and the other day for applying the concepts, and doingexamples.The relationship between motivation and group dynamics could clearly be seen in this cycle.With the increase in the number of assessment items, and in the percentage of marks basedon individual effort, the Portfolio ceased to be a clear indication of motivation, although itshould be said that the only student to fail this component was the explicitly noted leastmotivated student. With his fail, individual marks within that group ranged from 6.5 to 11.5(out of a possible 20 marks): the other group’s mark for this item ranged from 14.25 to 18.25.This raises the issue of group dynamics:Vaughn [...]the biggest problem I see with designstudios is the inability of groups to deal with members that arenot doing their share of the work or aligning their work withthe group.The reason I am pointing this problem out is purely selfish.don’t want to get stuck with freeloaders or some domineeringperson that wants to do it their way and only their way, inI359