Many students dread group projects. Unfortunately, they’re often a requirement for classes and may even have a big impact on your final grade. Professors include group projects in their syllabi because there’s a good chance you’ll need to collaborate with other people on projects after you graduate. Take advantage of the opportunity to improve your skills and do just as well on group projects as you do on individual assignments by keeping some key advice in mind.
1. Know Exactly What the Project Will Entail
Before jumping into the project, spend time carefully reading the instructions. This will prevent you from making mistakes that you’ll then need to spend time correcting. Most important is to check how much time you have to complete the project, as this will determine how often you need to meet with your group. In addition, find out how the project is graded, including whether you’ll all receive the same grades or if your professor grades each of your efforts individually.
2. Create a Schedule for Completing Tasks
In addition to creating a schedule for when you’ll meet with your group, set deadlines for completing each of the tasks the project will involve. Bear in mind that you’ll complete some of the tasks while studying with your group, but other tasks will be more suitable for doing in your own time. Consider this when creating your schedule, as you may need to use your time to study together to check each other’s work and provide suggestions.
3. Assign Everyone Roles
Assigning each person in your group a role is crucial for two reasons. First, it ensures everyone will do a fair share of the work. Second, it means you won’t have two people accidentally carrying out the same task.
A role every project needs is a leader. This person will be in charge of making sure you’re on track with tasks and checking everyone knows when you’re meeting and where. For this role, choose someone who is organized, has good time-management skills, and is willing to listen to what others have to say. The remaining roles will depend on the type of project but may include researchers, writers, an editor, and a presenter. If it is a particularly large undertaking, these roles may change over the course of the project.
4. Sign a Group Project Contract
Some professors provide students with a group contract for everyone to sign. If this is not the case in your class, create your own contract. It should specify each person’s responsibilities, deadlines for completing tasks, and the consequences for failing to fulfill the contract, which could be anything from owing everyone in the group coffee to being expelled from the group.
The key to a successful group project is meeting regularly to collaborate. The place you choose for your meetings needs to be near enough to campus to be convenient for everyone, have enough space for the whole group to work comfortably, and have high-speed internet access. The student housing at THEO meets all these requirements. Our apartments for rent near uOttawa are in a community just for students, meaning you’ll have all the amenities you’ll need to succeed with your studies. For instance, you’ll have 12 study rooms and two conference rooms that are ideal for group projects. Right now, we’re offering short-term leases and special promotions for immediate occupancy. Contact us for details.