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How do others feel about group assignments?

They say those who just 'ride out' the entire project by doing nothing and letting others in the group take on more workload are the worst. But for me it's the lack of communication that stops you, or others, working because you need an update of other group members; your work is dependant on their progress. It's important to have a strict schedule (to take into consideration delays and problems like the above), and when this schedule is itself ignored - I lose it. What's annoying are assignments that can easily be done by a single person in a week, but would take several weeks when you are told to do it in a group. This is more frustrating and more challenging than the assignment itself. And I haven't seen any difference to the way people approach these group works from secondary school, to college to University.

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Reply 1

lukejoshjedi

Waste of time, unecessary and usually always the assignment can be done by a single hard working, determined and focused person in the group. It's almost liked forced socialising to try to integrate classes and get people to work with and get to know people that 'they usually wouldn't talk to' or something like that, but it usually fails anyway because it's forced. The same sort of stereotyped members of a group stay the same too

From High school to Uni tbh, agreed

Reply 2

Cicerao

I've worked with lovely people, but my opinion of group work stays the same:

DO NOT WANT.

Reply 3

daniel505

Same - you always find there's someone who simply can't be asked to take part because it's a group assignment and it'll all be fine if they let everyone else do the work.

Surely teachers must know we don't appreciate it though? Always puzzled me that they seem to enjoy group work more than we do.

Reply 4

Threepigs

I enjoy it, that's if I have decent people to work with.

Reply 5

Holly Hiskey

Such a pain- I'm currently doing one that we've had all term to do and is due in next week. One of the girls still hasn't given hers in, two of the others produced pieces that are massively over the word limit and are just waffle, and since we have to present it to the class and I think I'm the only one who doesn't cry at the idea of public speaking I think I know who's going to end up doing the talking during that.

Reply 6

TheGrandmaster

Can't stand it. I like to be in control of my own fate :biggrin:

Reply 7

mermania

I feel glad I never had to do one.

Reply 8

lizlaz350

It's hard to express the amount I hate group work.
Obviously, I don't know about university level, but I hate, hate, hate having to do any form of group based project in lessons.

People never do what they're supposed to and just expect everyone else to do their bit for them.

I thought that by the time we reached year 13, the teachers would let us work more independently but no :frown:

Reply 9

tbm

Unfortunately most of our assignments at uni are group ones. I dont mind it now but when I first started I was dreading it. Luckily we all get on really well as a group which is important, and we all understand that we have different strengths/weaknesses.

The only thing I dont like though is the time issue - it seems to take forever to do and I would just prefer to go away and do it all myself in much less time.

Reply 10

Mastermind`

A ploy to bring my average mark down. It's a conspiracy. :nopity:

Reply 11

I'm_Unsafe.

Hate hate hate them. Hate them. Had no significant opinion on them til this semester when I have repeatedly had to do group presentations and am currently doing what is essentially a 'group essay' (How the **** is that supposed to work?! What the hell am I supposed to gain from that?!). It's all fine and dandy(ish) if you can find time to meet up with the people you're working with but when you spend weeks ummming and ahhing trying to sort something out.

Gah.

Original post by Threepigs

I enjoy it, that's if I have decent people to work with.

I've thought it before, but I figured I'd just come right out and say it... your sig really creeps me out :erm:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 12

Zero 1

i dislike them greatly, i normally take lead with any group work and do it my way anyway though

Reply 13

Fusion

You'll always get at least one dosser/freeloader but that's something you just gotta put up with and work around. Generally, I quite like them.

Hate em.

Hate it, but it's good for getting to know people in your class and stuff.

Reply 16

Crazy Paving

I don't like them, I prefer to get on with my own work and am usually the one who does more than everyone else. :indiff:

But, sometimes with self assignments, I do like to work with other people, which is ok.

Reply 17

Jelephant

Hate it. Luckily I don't have any this year, but last year I did three and each one was the biggest waste of time ever. Weeks of work and trying to get everything sorted (They were "poster sessions" so more time was taken over the colour and placement of a graph or a map than the actual content. Useless.), in return for about 5% of our overall mark. I didn't have the problem with "free riders" so much though, as there's this system in place where we can complain about it and have their grade reduced to 0 if we need to *evil face* =P

Reply 18

Potally_Tissed

Don't have a problem with it - as long as you get to choose how big the group is and who is in it.

Reply 19

alharrison4

I always do the preparation, while nobody else ever does.
I tried not doing any prep one week, but it was too late; the precedent had been set. Nobody else stepped in and the presentation was just crap that week. I don't really mind, it's not that much work anyway, but still!