Group projects–a basic guide

© Karen Southall Watts@askkaren on Twitterwww.karensouthallwatts.com

UGH! Please…not a group assignment

Create synergy and better ideas

Unexpected solutions to problems

Mimic real world work teams

Synergy: The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Ditch the baggage One person ends up doing all the work Real brilliance gets hidden by

groupthink The project melts down and everyone

gets a bad grade

Some things stay the same

Read and understand the assignment

Clarify due dates Review the

grading criteria/rubric

Ask questions NOW

Running a group—logistics Contact

information Communications

leader Time keeper Recorder Meeting

date/place

Running a group—clarify Discuss the scope of the

project & goals Divide and assign Encourage open

discussion and healthy disagreement

Never end meetings without “next step” plans in place

Contact your instructor… Free rider problem Illness, technology

breakdown or emergency

Questions about course material

Inappropriate behavior

Pulling a project together Edit Practice

Final tips and reminders A meeting is a meeting Technology breaks down It’s all fun and games…until

someone gets a bad grade.

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http://www.karensouthallwatts.com/