Here we go again. The end of the semester is near. That means many group projects are on the horizon. I know throughout my academic career I have always loathed group assignments. It seems as though one team member does most of the work while the others just go along with whatever. At least that has been my experience. Guess which type of member I tend to be. Yup, the one pulling all the weight. However, group assignments do not have to roll like that. Everyone has something to bring to the table. Being able to collaborate with your peers is a lesson best learned sooner rather than later.
Have a Game Plan
It is best to go into every assignment with a plan. Especially a group assignment. Rebecca Ingalls believes that planning is the best way to effectively work as a group. In her essay Eyeball to Eyeball , Ingalls strongly suggests establishing a group contract. A group contract will keep everyone on the same track. When brain storming a contract, there are five key points to keep in mind.
1.
Fully understand the task at hand. All members should have a shared understanding of the assignment. The group should have a common goal. Furthermore, the group should get down to the nitty-gritty, “…form, length, design, voice, research expectations, creative possibilities.” This should all be discussed before diving into the assignment.
2.
How will your group communicate? First and foremost, a communication medium needs to be established. Whether your group meets in the library or over zoom, everyone needs to be able to participate. Most importantly, how will your group deal with conflict? Not everyone will agree with each other all the time. Being able to compromise and effectively argue is crucial.
3.
Deadlines, and I’m not just talking the deadline. Each part of the project should have a deadline. This will keep everyone on track. If one member begins to procrastinate, this can cause the entire group to be held back.
4.
The work should be ethical. All members should abide by their institution’s integrity policy. When it comes to research, all research should be ethical. All sources must be reliable and academic. Lastly, absolutely no plagiarism!
5.
Set standards. Every member should have a shared definition of quality and success. All members should be putting in the same amount of effort. No one should be slacking, it’s not fair to those putting forth effort.
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