Group work for the maths test

Prepare three different exercises that make up a test and assign them to the class; the exercises have to be solved in groups. The exercises have to require different performances.

The first, a standard application of a theory that should be solved by every student; it can be designed as a quiz using an online tool such as Kahoot, Quizizz, Socrative, Testmoz.  

The second, a more complex application of it, as for comprehension and solution; it can be an individual assignment delivered through the Google Classroom or other virtual learning enviroment. 

The third exercise has to require a high level of creativity to be solved, e.g. a problem never discussed in class that requires other formal and informal skills; you can require students to use a collaborative board and send the work to you. You can learn more on the tools for testing and share content with your class by enrolling in the Module 2 of the MOOC. The goal here is to create online exercises with growing degrees of creativity and personal problem solving skills required. 

Make up work groups of four students, paying attention to have them balanced for performance and competence level of the students.

Explain the exercises and the division into groups in synchronous mode to the whole class; then, ask them to meet up in their own group by dividing them into sub-rooms you can control by the videoconference tool (Zoom, Teams work well for this, learn more in the Module 2 of the MOOC).

Set up another virtual room in which they can enter whenever they want for explanations or clarifications from you. You can also use the chat or the forum function of the sub-rooms you created. Require groups to deliver their works after 1,5 hours.

Set up an award ceremony with a positive vote to the best group: assign a package of extra points that the group that has obtained the highest score has to divide among members, according to the contribution of each one. This extra vote is assigned autonomously by the members to themselves, with the sole requirement that no member of the group can be assigned a grade lower than or equal to 6/10.