‘This module will be assessed by a group presentation’ are often words that can fill you with dread. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you’ll always end up with someone who doesn’t turn up to meetings, and someone else who disagrees with everything you say! I had my fair share of group projects throughout my uni life, and I managed to pick up some top tips along the way.
1. Create roles and stick to them
Some group projects will have roles that you have to cover as a group. In other modules there won’t be certain roles, and it’s a free for all. I think that creating roles can be really helpful to keep you on track. If you divide the task up into manageable chunks then everyone knows what they are responsible for. It also makes it easier to track if anyone isn’t working on their part, and it stops you doubling up.
2. Social media is your BFF (and so is Google Docs)
I can’t imagine uni without social media, especially with group projects. Facebook and WhatsApp chats literally got us through so many projects, and meant that we could always communicate with each other. Google Docs is also a saving grace, purely because more than one person can edit a document at once. Everything gets done so much quicker! As I said, I really don’t know how students survived before the internet…
3. Don’t underestimate the importance of meeting up
Although I’ve said that social media and Google Docs are great, they shouldn’t be a total substitute for meeting up in person and working together. Even if you’ve split up the tasks and are working autonomously on them, it’s also important to regroup and make sure everything is going well. Group members can help others, and it’s a good way to discuss any problems in person, rather than over message where things can easily be interpreted wrong.
Group projects can be a recipe for disaster, but they can also be a really good learning experience. If you implement some good roles, track progress on social media and meet up from time to time, you’ll be able to smash it.
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