Group Projects stink!

Repat · Apr 23, 2004

Actually, I can't think of one group project I have ever done that would prepare me for the "real world". Can anyone else? I am really curious, because I am about to begin a new career teaching, and I cannot think of one instance that I would find a group project educational for my students.

RedSox33RN · Apr 23, 2004

I truly do NOT understand the reason for group projects. Even *if* you get a *good* group where everyone does their part, I think people get much more out of things by doing research themselves, rather than everyone doing a section and putting it all together.

Plus, I agree that they just stink all-around. Some people have a very dedicated work ethic to projects, and others do the bare minimum to get by - some not even that, especially if they think they can ride the coattails of others to an easy A or B. Not only that, but for someone like me who lives so far away from school and most of my classmates (and am sure I will in nursing school also), getting together for meetings is difficult, especially working around my kids' schedules, etc.

All said, I'd rather do ALL of the work myself on a big project, than try to coordinate and work with 3 others and do 1/4 of the work. I don't like my grade dependent on what other people do. We were "almost" going to have a group project in my English class this semester, and I'm thrilled we don't. Not only are 10 out of the 14 people in my class extremely lazy, but they are horrible students. We had to critique each others persuasive papers 2 weeks ago, and I could not BELIEVE what I read. Spelling errors my 2nd grader doesn't even make, papers that made absolutely no sense - just plain garbage. I realize not everyone is a writer, but last I checked, every word processing program comes with a spell-checker, and they're not hard to use. I think I really lucked out in not having a group project. :uhoh3:

smk1, LPN · Apr 23, 2004

I agree! One of my professors in my MSN class mentioned the fact that she was considering changing a part of the requirements for her class to a group project. I e-mailed her a rather strongly worded note about why that would be a bad idea. I do not understand the theory behind group projects. There is ALWAYS someone who doesn't do his/her share, and the rest suffer. If you aren't a team player, a group project certainly won't teach you to be one. BAD IDEA!!!

i understand the theory behind why they have group projects. Its because you have to work as a team in a lot of jobs and there is usually someone whom is not pulling their weight or their personality conflcts with yours. Now having said that I absolutely detest group projects and feel that if you are PAYING tuition, then no one should have control over your grade and work other than you. :rolleyes: time enough to learn how to deal with others in a group setting when you start work. (besides they have classes like group and interpersonal communication that are required and teach ways of dealing with others anyway).

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 23, 2004

And for depending on others.

Of course, half the people in my class project last year were very irresponsible.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 23, 2004

i understand the theory behind why they have group projects. Its because you have to work as a team in a lot of jobs and there is usually someone whom is not pulling their weight or their personality conflcts with yours. Now having said that I absolutely detest group projects and feel that if you are PAYING tuition, then no one should have control over your grade and work other than you. time enough to learn how to deal with others in a group setting when you start work. (besides they have classes like group and interpersonal communication that are required and teach ways of dealing with others anyway).

That was my original point.......the projects themselves don't have much relevance to real work life, but forcing a bunch of people, who may not know each other well and may not have anything in common, to work together is very much the reality in the corporate world. That (unfortunately) includes health care! I agree that it basically sucks, because there is ALWAYS at least one person who doesn't pull his or her weight and everyone else has to take up the slack.......but it's no different out there on the job.

I actually found this group work thing very daunting when I was in college......I'd been out of the work force for many years, raising my children, and during that time, the team concept really took off. When I'd worked as a young woman, management would SAY that everyone was part of a team, but on the assembly line, individual output was what got you raises.....or got you canned. Then came nursing school at age 36, and suddenly MY grade depended on the other people in my group! I hated it!! In fact, I STILL hate it........for example, I'm one of the few nurses who documents all my patient teaching (mainly because I'm one of the few who actually does it), yet when the department is scored on its documentation, we all get our butts chewed because "nobody's doing the education piece".

Oh well, like I said before......that's life! :rolleyes:

kwagner_51 · Apr 23, 2004

I had to do 2 posters for my nursing Med/Surg class. I spent over 24 hrs. on the project and it was only worth 5 points!! GRRRRRRR

Then to make matters worse, we had to grade each other's posters!!!

I am so tired of doing 7th grade projects for something I consider extremely important.

Anyone else get this kinda crap?

Thanks!!

EMTtoRN · Apr 24, 2004

Sorry, have to vent a bit. We have known about a group project in A&P for a few months now. We had it all set, 4 of us girls. We were to go over it tonight and present it next week. Well we just found out that one girl dropped the class, so we have one week to research and organize her portion. She hadn't started any of it, so there was nothing typed up she could give us to go from. It just stinks!
The whole grading as a group when not everone pulls their own weight is so frustrating too.

I HEAR YA!!! My lab project partner JUST dropped the class 3 freaking weeks before the presentation GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR