Being part of a group project can be difficult in many instances because it involves working together with people who have different ideas, work styles and priorities. It requires commitment and agreement between members. This can be difficult because it is sometimes hard to agree on specific concepts or choose what looks best in a paper or presentation.
I think that the best way to handle group projects is to respect and collaborate with others. Since I started at FGCU, I have seen the importance of group projects in different courses. It shows professors that we are mature enough to collaborate with others and shows if we will be a good addition to a team in our future jobs. I have been part of many group projects since then and there are a few things that I have learned along the way.
When being part of a group, the first thing we need to talk about is communication. There have been many times when members don’t reply to messages or do not engage when discussing responsibilities. Communication is vital in transmitting essential information as well as assigning tasks to group members. The first day that a group gets assigned, all members need to share some type of information to create a communication channel. This can include email, phone number or third party platform. By doing this, everyone can be in the loop and contribute as much as they want. If all team members share in a group together, it creates an outlet for two-way communication where we can discuss details of the project. They won’t be able to say that they were not included and will have to stay on top of everything to receive a grade.
Another important thing to remember when participating in a group project is to discuss expectations and responsibilities from the beginning. For instance, the first thing that I talk about with my group members is the expectations I have regarding a specific project. I speak to them about the importance of obtaining a good grade and having fun while we do it. School is not a game and many agree that getting a good grade is important because it can positively affect our future GPAs. I like to discuss responsibilities and delegate tasks so everyone has a role. Everyone must have a unique role that adds to the team. For example, people have different abilities and while one might be excellent at doing graphic design, the other might be excellent at writing eloquently and elegantly. It is all about a balance of who is responsible for what.
Although being in a group project can be difficult if we are mature enough and communicate well, the final result will show our commitment and work ethic. It is crucial to learn teamwork skills because many jobs will require this specific skill. It is something valuable that we can add to our toolbox and use for our future. There will be many projects that require collaboration and everyone needs to understand the importance of handling those commitments.
