How to Survive Group Projects in an Online Course

Author: AA

When students start their first online courses, many myths need to be addressed. For example, many students assume that they work mostly alone to submit class assignments. When they discover a group project on the show, they are often surprised.

Group work is just one way for course designers and instructors to ensure that the learning experience meets the quality standards of online education, especially the active learning standards. and interaction with students.

Group tasks can be prepared for post-graduate jobs when teamwork is often essential to success.

With collaborative tasks, you can not only get to know your classmates better but also promote the exchange of ideas and information. Each student brings a unique perspective and context to the work so that everyone can learn from each other.

You can also prepare group assignments for postgraduate jobs when teamwork is often essential to success. The LinkedIn survey of skills most needed by employers in 2020 includes five general skills that can be developed and refined in online group tasks: creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Students who register for online courses usually do so because they are already busy with work, family, and other commitments. So your initial instinct may be to avoid classes with group work. However, the reality is that these options can be as rewarding as they are challenging.

Follow these seven steps to make the most of your time and make the most of the online group experience.

The steps to success with online group projects:

 

 Understand mapping requirements

Are you asked to use certain tools? When does the project expire? Can you get feedback on designs before delivering the final product? A good group task is a well-organized task. Your teacher should give instructions and expectations regarding what is required.

Look for checklists, sections, schedules, and other details on the course page and in the program. After working with your group members to find all the information available, you can create a list of questions your group has about the project that you can ask your instructor.

 Manage your time wisely

Allocations can include detailed lists of milestones and timeframes. If so, you are already ahead in terms of planning and time management.

However, if the project leaves this planning to each group, it is better to first divide the work into shorter segments. Creating a list of milestones that your group must reach and a timetable for completing each part of the project is helpful when your work begins. Consider using the countdown planning approach to make sure you start with your goals and lesson plan.

The University of Waterloo describes seven possible group project roles: leader, organizer, editor, researcher, author, problem solver, and moderator.

You should also work to identify the specific roles that are required to perform your task and determine which team members are responsible for each position. The University of Waterloo describes seven possible group project roles: leader, organizer, editor, researcher, author, problem solver, and moderator.

Depending on the size of your group and the length and type of task you are working on, you can assign several people to a role or let the members occupy several positions.

A woman in a white blouse sits with her laptop at a conference table in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in a building on a university campus.

 

 Communicate

In order to work effectively from a distance, concerted efforts are required to communicate frequently and effectively. Weekly meetings are recommended for projects that take place throughout the academic period.

Your group must decide not only when you will meet, but also how you will meet. Web conferencing tools like Skype and Zoom are more popular than ever. Text messages and group phone calls can also be useful between scheduled meetings during online classes when questions or updates need to be approved.