Group projects = major suckage

[Onkel Neal]

First, it's a law of the universe that no matter who you talk to, they will say they hate group projects and they do all the work. Obviously, sometimes it's true and the speaker is the one who does the work, but I've never heard anyone pop up in a discussion about GPs and say, "yeah, I don't like group projects, I'm lazy and cannot manage my time and end up not contributing." :-?

We’ve All Been There: The Group Project (http://collegecandy.com/2009/11/10/we%E2%80%99ve-all-been-there-the-group-project/)

I just needed to rant a little... I feel better now. :shucks: I am firmly convinced if colleges are going to make people do GPs, then they should have a GP class to prepare people on HOW to function in a GP.

[GoldenRivet]

Ahh group projects.

got to love them.

My experience with group projects has almost universally been the same and you can create a few personalities to go with the group

"Group Leader"

Pros: This person is a highly intelligent and motivate student. Probably a student with top marks, and knows not only how to guide the group to swift victory, but how to do so in a way that will result in an excellent grade and already has a step by step plan to achieving this success before the end of class.

Cons: Virtually no other member of the group cares about "the plan" and does not give the group leader any single ounce of respect or following.

"The Jock"

Pros: This charismatic individual passed for 4 touchdowns in the game against Other State University last weekend and everyone in the group will look to them for leadership.

Cons: Knows nothing about the assignment, spends 40 minutes of class time discussing the team's on field successes. and finally, in literally the last second before the assignment is due defers all responsibility to "the group leader"

"The quiet kid"

Pros: Has lots of great ideas, has electronics hardware and software programming skills as well as art skills and numerous other super human skills that could prove highly useful to the group project.

Cons: Doesnt say much so his amazing and stupendous talents are a total secret to everyone but himself.

"The Slacker"

Pros: . . . .

Cons: Name it. Shows up late... if at all, is not organized, sleeps through most classes. Can sense when the rest of the group is becoming annoyed with his slacking off so he volunteers to do something really important, like put the powerpoint together for the speech presentation... but ultimately "forgets" to do this at all.

"The Speaker"

Pros: This beautiful big breasted blond girl is the sure show piece any big corporation would put on TV to sell their products or services... what better person to present the material to the Professor and the rest of the class on the day our speech is due?!

Cons: Like, oh my gosh, its like totally like every other word out of this chicks mouth is like! so not only like, does the class like, have no idea like what this chick is talking about. but like, neither does the professor! So its like... our sure fire A+ is now like, totally like a D- if like, not worse.

"Yourself"

Pros: This is more or less a blow off class, and yes, this project accounts for 60% of your grade... but if you can just work hard enough to offset the absolute nothing the other members bring to the table - you will squeak by with a passing grade and that Bachelors degree is YOURS!!

Cons: 15 consecutive nights studying and working on the project until 3am has resulted in you doing ALL the work, so that 5 other jerks can get a free ride to a passing grade! (note: "yourself" is the category every living person who ever was in a group claims to fit into)

i dont care what the class is, or what the circumstances... you will always have the above individuals in your group. Period

[UnderseaLcpl]

I am firmly convinced if colleges are going to make people do GPs, then they should have a GP class to prepare people on HOW to function in a GP.

Screw that. I don't want another class that's a prerequisite to taking a class. I've already spent countless hours coming up with BS reasons for why I want my degree in order to pass "course planning". It's like trying to come up with a 5-year plan for the Soviet Union. Inflexible, stupid, and completely uneccessary. At best, it should be voluntary.

Personally, I prefer to just do all the work myself, and perhaps delegate a few small and easily manageable tasks to others. If one person takes charge of the responsibilities of people who don't want to do the work it will make the assignment look more as if the group was really working together. Yeah, they get credit for your work, but so what? It'll bite them in the ass later.

My rule of thumb when it comes to GP is that you should do the whole project yourself, or at least most of it, and then go to the GP group. Cover your bases. If someone falls short you can always throw in your own stuff at the last minute.

I don't know what school you're attending, or what the curriculum is like there, but I can say with certainty that someone who has created an online community that unites thousands of people across 5 continents on a daily basis is probably capable of "leading from the front", if you will. Full speed ahead and to hell with the anchors! Let them drag until you can release the chains and let them rust on the seabed. :arrgh!:

[TarJak]

I am firmly convinced if colleges are going to make people do GPs, then they should have a GP class to prepare people on HOW to function in a GP.

Screw that. I don't want another class that's a prerequisite to taking a class. And you just know that if you sit in the GP 101 class they are going to give you a GP to do as a way of making sure you learned what they are teaching.:haha:

[Schroeder]

@GR
Well, if you can choose your partners you might end up with a cool group. But yeah, in general you will always have someone on the "team" who screws up big time.

I really hate if I get bad marks because some lazy sh*t didn't do his/her job.:damn:

[raymond6751]

What you need is a small group made up of people of unique talents or abilities, each of which is specifically needed by the project. No more.

The problem with most groups is that members (some) don't have any particular skill or contribution to give.

[Catfish]

Additonally there's "teamwork", with the same persons and roles mentioned above - only that some of the old group will try to throw out any new one in a minute, by mobbing, spreading false statements and generally contribute to a quick failure, of the project - it is "never their fault" though. :O:

Teamwork means nowadays, that you can be such a dictator at first strike that you make all others shut up and respect your alpha personality - otherwise, no chance. :D

Greetings,
Catfish