I don’t know about you, but … I absolutely hate group assignments! I’ve hated them since elementary school, and I can rant about it all day long. I get it; group assignments are supposed to teach you how to work in a group, coordinate, communicate and prepare you to work on collaborative projects that require you to work with future colleagues and external companies. But unless you are lucky enough to have well-coordinated groups, this is what I absolutely hate about group projects. Sometimes there is absolutely no coordination. For example, everyone’s schedules conflict with each other, no communication, someone’s ideas are not being heard, or for some reason, everyone leaves it to the last minute.
Throughout my experiences, I’ve noticed that there are and will always be two types of students in group assignments. You have the two classics: the “know-it-all” and the “slacker,” kinda cliche – but they’re real.
The “know-it-all” are the ones who take the lead but always think they’re right, or take too much control. The “slacker,” on the other hand, are most likely the ones to barely contribute in group chats or leave their parts until the last few days before the due date.
Super annoying, but what can you do? Actually, there are a few things you can do to overcome those dreaded difficulties:
Divide your Strengths and Weaknesses
The key to communication and coordination is to learn who can do what. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? For instance, if your assignment requires your group to create a presentation board, try finding out who has better artistic skills and has experience with visuals for colour flow and legibility. If you and your group establish this, it will better your task management, allow for smoother collaboration, and focus more energy on specific areas that require more attention.
Shared Google Sheets
A group chat can only do so much, and sometimes a Google Doc can get way too messy. The best way to organize and keep track of everyone’s work—especially for large group projects of more than four people—without an overload of information all in one place is to use Google Sheets instead. If multiple members of your group are unable to attend Zoom meetings or study sessions, using Google Sheets will be the best option to track individual contributions and prevent overlapping information.
Email your Professor
If things are truly not working out with your group, there’s nothing wrong with emailing your professor. I know I had a hard time during my first year because I was too scared and shy to bother my professors. But later, I realized that I should be looking out for myself at the end of the day, and what’s the point in handing in an assignment that has poor-quality sections, especially if you’re not getting marked individually? So, be brave and email your professor! Who knows, maybe they’ll switch you out, provide considerate grading, or even give you different assignment options, like an essay instead. Remember, your professors are here to help you succeed.
Unfortunately, there is no way to escape group assignments, but there will always be ways to make it easier.