Navigating Group Projects: Keep Your Sanity and Get the Grade

Group projects- the bane of every student’s existence...

 If you have ever been in a group project with university students, then you’ll know that your sanity is at stake.

John has dance practice by 4 pm, Jaden’s brain cannot function after 5 pm, Pauline does not think anyone can beat her smartness so she’s not ready to rub minds together, and Stella is just not interested in the project and is fine with whatever you guys come up with. Then there is you, who is fighting tooth and nail for an academic comeback, and this semester was going to be "It". Unfortunately, Professor Julius had to divide the whole class into groups for the continuous assessment, worse, it is a 4-unit course.

The story sounds relatable, yeah?

Well, come along as we take you on a journey on how to navigate group projects while you keep your sanity and get the grade.

Early Organisation is key

“We’ll talk about it later, shebi the deadline is not till next week,” Number one red flag! As soon you have been divided into groups, make sure to get the group together to talk about the project and the expectations. Discuss who is doing what, when the internal deadlines are, and what app you’ll use to communicate with each other. Dividing tasks and responsibilities from the get-go ensures that everyone knows what they are responsible for.

Stay in the Loop 

Check up on your group members regularly; do not assume that you are all on the same page, and if there is a problem like unclear instructions or someone is slacking off, address it directly and respectfully. The earlier you deal with it, the better. If tensions rise, remember that it is just a temporary project, not like they are joining you guys in holy matrimony.

Lead from the Front 

“I’ll just wait for someone else to take the lead.” You definitely must be joking if your grade is at stake. You do not have to be the assigned leader to take charge. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of initiative. Step up, organize the first meeting, and send out reminders. Leadership is not always about bossing people around but about making sure things move forward.

Dealing with Slackers

Every group project seems to have at least one member who does the bare minimum or worse, nothing at all, like Stella in our case study- we have all been there. Yes, it is frustrating and very much unfair. You can, however, handle it by checking in on that person, as people sometimes are not intentionally slacking off. If things do not improve and you cannot shoulder their workload, inform the group and think of ways to tackle it collectively. You’re not responsible for carrying someone else’s weight, and your grade should not suffer for it.

Manage your Time 

Group projects can be overwhelming, especially when you are juggling other classes, extracurriculars, and maybe a remote job. To avoid burnout, set personal boundaries, allocate specific times to focus on the project and stick to them. 

In conclusion, while group projects can be frustrating, they are also an opportunity to develop essential skills like collaboration, leadership, and conflict resolution. Once things get tough, remember the arrangement is only temporary and that academic comeback has to be a bang!