Working in Groups
What to Do 
Working in groups may be one of the most difficult and valuable experiences you'll have during your academic career. In the real world, very little happens in isolation. Knowing how to work collaboratively is an essential component of professional development. When you're closer to graduating and you begin looking into the “desired qualifications” for specific occupations, you will find that the ability to work in a team setting is critical for a wide range of jobs. In courses like your University Studies Freshman Inquiry, you and your colleagues will depend heavily on group work. Needless to say, it's important that folks know how to communicate and get work done on time—otherwise your grades (and experience in the class) will suffer. Despite the emphasis on group work, there are many students who enter college with little or no experience in facilitating successful group dynamics. Many students without group experiences often feel nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure about what role is appropriate for them within the group. This uncertainly is common. However, it's important to kick your skill development into high gear, so we've provided some tips from more experienced students on how to create good experiences while working in groups.
How to Do It
- Put group goals first.
- Do your part and stay on deadline.
- Make room for everyone to contribute.
- Keep good records.
- Emphasize the importance of meeting group deadlines.
Where to Find Help
There are several places where you can find additional resources about creating successful working groups. First, check out the “Communicating with Other Students” tip sheet on this website. Also, the University of Toledo website has some excellent suggestions for creating good group dynamics in an academic setting.
Strategies for Success
Be Flexible
It is important to stay focused on what the group is trying to accomplish. For group projects to be successful, it's important for individuals to be flexible about roles, meeting times, and the focus of the project. In larger groups, this may mean having the occasional meeting at times that are very inconvenient to you. It may also mean letting go of the topic you'd really like to work on for one that better meets the group's agenda and interests.
Set up Clear Expectations from the Start
Begin every group project by setting ground rules and priorities for the group. Ground rules are a list of explicit expectations that everyone in the group agrees to follow. It doesn't have to be an elaborate list, just some simple statements such as, "Everyone agrees to come to meetings prepared and on time" or "All group conflicts will be discussed in person, not over e-mail." Ground rules help to set the tone of the group while also helping to ensure that everyone is clear on the expectations—these are both important strategies for avoiding conflict.
After you've agreed upon some ground rules, make a timeline for the project, and decide who will accomplish what piece and when those tasks should be completed. One strategy is to discuss what skills each group member has and what they'd like to do. For example, if one member of the group is particularly skilled at research, they might handle this task. If another member excels at creating Power Point presentations, this can be where they put the majority of their energy. The goal is to have the commitments evenly distributed. One tip to remember in a group project is that editing can take days to complete, so allow sufficient time to review the project before it's handed in. Many students underestimate the amount of time the review process takes and spend the day before the deadline scrambling to pull together the important final touches.
Complete Your Project Components on Time (and Do Your Part Well)
There are a lot of stories about group projects gone wrong, and the majority of them have to do with the one person who simply couldn't (or wouldn't) get their act together to submit their pieces of the project on time. Don't be this person! It creates really stressful group dynamics and will likely delay the review process which can often make the difference between an A and a B-.
Anther problem is when the work gets done on time, but it's of poor quality. This too is a really frustrating situation and one that won't earn you a lot of friends. If you're having trouble researching, writing, or completing any part of the project, talk to your group-mates and be honest about the challenges your experiencing. Immediately seek help from the PSU writing center, your professor, or a student you know and trust to help you diagnosis and solve the problem. Unless you have a major crisis, don't let your group down. Stay on deadline and seek help if needed.
Coming Soon