Tips for succeeding with team assignments
Managing group work can be challenging - especially when group projects are now done online!
These tips created in collaboration by a Mohawk professor and upper semester Mohawk students, will help guide your group process, so you can have the best experience and earn the best grade.
5 tips for making group work, work:
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Know your group
Whether you’re able to pick your group or your professor assigns your group, with a little effort, any group can work effectively together.
When your group is first formed, spend some time and energy getting to know each other! Everyone has something important and unique to contribute. Once you know your team members, working together is a lot easier.
Some questions you might want to ask are:
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What is the best way to contact each other?
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What time(s) are you typically available to do school work?
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What skills do you have that can help with the project?
Remember that time spent working with your group isn’t just social, and that you have a goal to achieve!
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Understand the assignment
One step that is often overlooked is spending time to understand the project together.
It is important to review the assignment requirements, understand the steps to complete the project, and clarify any questions with your instructor.
In this step, you might want to consider:
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What is the goal of the project? (e.g. solve, recommend, instruct)
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Who is the audience for the project? (e.g. classmates, professor, imaginary client)
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Are there specific content requirements? (e.g. at least 3 topics)
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Are there research & documentation requirements? (e.g. at least 3 sources, APA documentation)
By doing these tasks together, you can clear up any confusion your group members might have and ensure you’re all on the same page!
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Organize! Organize! Organize!
“Failing to plan is planning to fail” – Alan Lakein
Once you understand the assignment, it is time to set up a plan to complete it!
When doing group work in a remote virtual learning environment, communication is extremely important.
As a group, be sure to discuss the following:
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Pick a preferred method of communication so everyone can stay engaged. Some popular choices are email, group text, and Microsoft Teams.
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Establish the format of the project – Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs?
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Work together to each take a task
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Choose a deadline for completion
Try writing down the assigned tasks, including details and deadlines and save it somewhere that all your group members can see. This makes it easier for everyone to keep track of what they are expected to do!
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Check your progress
Now that your project is well underway and people are working on their task, set regular meeting times as a whole group.
In the progress meetings, consider these questions:
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How are tasks progressing?
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Are we still on track to meet the deadlines?
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Is there anything you need help with?
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Are there any areas we need to rethink?
Having frequent check-ins with the team also helps to identify and address issues early and quickly.
It is not the professor’s responsibility to manage internal problems in your group; however, they are often a good source of advice. Your professor may be able to assist with research problems, changes in the direction of the project, and provide steps to take if a group member is not doing their share of the work.
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Wrapping up
Your group projects should not look like individual efforts that were combined together thoughtlessly. Your project should look, sound and feel like a TEAM effort.
You want to make sure the end product is coordinated, cohesive, correct and consistent!
Leave lots of time to gather all your work together. Ensure there is a clear organization of content, as well as consistency of fonts, slide backgrounds, report headings, documentation numbering, page numbering, and so on.
For ideas on how to level up your academic skills, check out the Learning Support Centre’s Keys to Success workshops!
Tips in this post derived from the following resource: Shields, Carol. Effective Group Presentations. 2010, https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/learning-support-centre/writing-communications-support. PowerPoint Presentation.
