is group work and thorn in your side this video will equip you with the
strategies you'll need to help your groupie successful leaving you
anxiety-free about your next project. But why have strangers collaboraed on
projects? Research shows that we actually learn better and retain more information
when we work with diverse perspectives.
No matter what career you choose some form of group work will be necessary
so starting now is great practice.
So why are group project sometimes a major headache
even though it has led to great things like Destiny's Child and the rolling
stones? Yet still, most students don't do group work but instead stitch the work
of four to five different individuals together like it's Frankenstein's
monster. The true purpose of group work is to use a range of perspectives to
develop one polished and refined product. Now let's focus on the early stages of
group work. one of the biggest struggle students have a group work is managing
the logistics of the project
Who's taking notes during the meeting? Who organizes meetings? who will check in
to see if tasks are completed? Before delving into the answers have everyone
share some bad habits that they want to improve on for example a tendency to be
late or dominate a conversation. Basing these responsibilities on your answers,
will save you a lot of frustration down the road. We divided these
responsibilities into roles like a notetaker and a mediator, you can learn more
by clicking the link in the description. Decide what works best for you and your
group and allow room for flexibility in your roles. Up next is project planning
Before you end, make sure your group is on the same page when it comes to your
goals and approach for the project. Be specific with your tasks,
instead of “shoot a video” break down the process into each of its steps.
This will prevent potential conflicts and the group can always refer back to
this page if you’ve hit a roadblock. Make a chart with each task, the individual
assigned to the task, its completion date, and necessary resources. Prioritize them
Prioritize them based on time and importance but be realistic and flexible with your deadlines.
When assigning tasks and roles, assign them according to strengths but
keep in mind that group work is a good opportunity to learn new skills.
Aim for an equal number of hours
when distributing tasks and remember that some tasks may require more than
one person. Also, make sure to schedule several check-ins so you can ensure that
everyone stays on track and are better equipped to deal with set-backs.
Another important part of group work is online collaboration. Online tools can promote
efficiency and organization. However, many students go wrong by using it as a
replacement for in-person group interactions. Think of a spectrum, with
complete democracy on one end and complete individualization on the other.
There are certain parts of a group project that work better when the whole
group is involved and others where it might not be necessary. For example, big
group decisions like ideating and check-ins should be done in person. Maybe
a subgroup where a few people work together on a big task and present back
to the whole team is more appropriate. Items like deciding a font are probably
better for online work. Decide what’s appropriate for each task but strive for
in-person or video conferences as much as possible. Even though scheduling is a
hassle, sometimes things that take 20 emails to figure out can easily occur in 10 minute conversations.
Here are some online tools we suggest for your own
group work
However, it is easy to forget that not everyone has Facebook or can use these
platforms. Exchange phone numbers and emails the old fashioned way especially
in cases of emergency. If there’s a gap in your group’s communication, it’s also
t’s also handy to know how to manage conflict: Conflict, of some magnitude, is pretty
much inevitable when you work with others. The way you handle it determines
whether the different perspectives, personalities and interests work to the
team’s advantage or its demise. Some examples of conflict you might face include:
a conflict of ideas, a lack of accountability, or missing deadlines.
To stay on the right track here are some tips on how to manage conflicts that may
arise: Stay calm, be patient and respectful,
and have each person speak one at a time.
To avoid personal attacks address the action not the person. instead of "you always or you
should" try "i feel or I've noticed". If the issue gets personal enlist the help of
an objective party like a TA or your prof.
All relationships require compromise so choose solutions that are in the group's best interests.
Also, be sure to check out the links for specific strategies to help you with
group process, managing conflict and communicating effectively.
In the end what most people just like about group work is the stress of managing it.
By embracing the core idea of actually working in a group you'll have the
opportunity to identify your own strengths and weaknesses and soon learn
firsthand what great groups can achieve.
Want to be a better student?
Explore the learning commons.ubc.ca website. and visit the Chapman learning commons
on the third floor of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.