Group work mishap

Group work is not fun! I will agree that they suck! But, the outcome of it is TEAMWORK...Can you work as a team and succeed? Communication, organization, leadership, seeing differences, etc...

My experience was joining a class (group communication: BSN requirement) a day late. The instructor randomly groups and I was placed in the fewer members group to make it even. Knowing that they already did the introduction/ice-breaking ordeal, I felt a bit awkward, lost/confused at my 1st meeting, their 2nd meeting. We had to create a Nursing In-Service that could be picked up by any person wanting to move the project forward. Therefore, the In-service had to be broken down, detail by detail in a binder and later presented to the class (for 1 grade for all!!!) I admit, I try to be an over-achiever student because I want to do the best I can to learn and succeed. I don't just do "half-bootie" just to pass. Well, somehow, I ended up being the LEADER! Picking up certain people's slack because they either didn't meet mine and/or group members criteria or they didn't care as much or in your case "forgot." I guess what I am trying to say in this confusing comment is that Group work sucks, especially when your grade depends on it. Yet, if you are as assertive as you want to be, you can try try to get things done the way you want to. If there was a chance to repeat what happened, could you have sent the assignment to the teacher instead of waiting for the "forgetful group-member." I know that sounds bad to intrude on other's responsibilities, but my grade is important to me, I sometimes gotta do what I gotta do :)

Overall, it's good that you vented out your frustrations, but Group work isn't as bad as it is...(I think? ).

In addition about my group project: I ended up purchasing additional material for our project, create ppts, flyers, almost everything on my own and we got a 20/20! Did I think it was fair for the slacker to get the 20? NO! but he did! The other groups got B, C, and C- for their project! I did learn that the teacher always knows what's going on within groups! She knew that everybody in my group was counting on me and that it wasn't fair, but she couldn't do anything (???)

About your Quiz thing....I have to take a quiz by myself prior to taking it with a group because once I figure out why I chose that answer, I can rationalize or rethink my answer!

I started a thread very similar to this a few weeks ago... If you can go back and find it I got some very helpful replies.. They were very encouraging!!! I am going through the same thing with my group that I have for the semester. I tend to be the leader for all of the projects because I write down EVERY DETAIL that is said in class, including examples at the beginning of the semester when we have no clue what we are getting into yet. So, somehow, that doesn't help me except for my ending grade. I wish you the best in school, I am done in May and cannot wait to get away from some of the lazy people I have been stuck with for group projects so far.

I hate anything in which I have to completely depend on someone else for part of my grade (or paycheck, or whatever). It's a control issue probably, but it is what it is. In those situations, I just pray for competence (on the part of the others AND myself, because now I'm partly responsible for their outcome as well - not too fond of THAT concept either btw).

On the other hand, I LOVE my local study/support group of students. Going over all the material with them helps so much and because of geography we were scheduled for clinicals together and they were such a huge support to me. Just in the moral support area.