Seriously. I get the whole point is for those who have not been in the work force to learn you "have to work together with everyone" in the real world but I have repeatedly been the one in my pre-req classes that ends up doing all the work because people either A.) do not do it or B.) do it last minute and so terribly that I have to correct it. We have to take small group quizzes every week in one of my classes, it's torture. It actually hinders my learning working in groups rather than help it (which is the professor's aim).
Ugh, just venting while I finished up YET another project because the other girl couldnt get it to it and is out of town till the due date with no access to a computer (really, at least tell a good lie). Can i just point out I have 3 kids under 6, a job, and nursing school and it's just her but yet she can't seem to find the motivation to do a couple freaking slides.
What is wrong wtih people?!? And I am 28 so not ancient and I am not trying to offend anyone here because I know there are exceptions, but I know if I am in a group with anyone under 24, chances are 90% of the time they won't do it. What is that?!!
My school fixes this problem by having everyone in the group rate the others and it is counted as part of the grade. The rating is done anonymously and although you know it was someone from your group you don't know who. They usually make the rating about 10% of the grade. Makes the slackers sit up and take notice!
Honestly not to be rude but this is easier said than done. I can't physically force people to help and meet up and trying to corner them they just say "No can't now"
I had to do all the work again yesterday for a non-nursing group project. I texted everyone in the group chat for over an hour. Later at night one said "sorry I was at a party." Her grades are C's. I want A's anyway.
I definitely didn't say it would be easy.
You don't want to do the whole project, which I understand. But you seem hesitant to expend the effort to ensure that the group pulls it's weight.
Group work sucks but it is assigned to teach us how to manage time and work with our peers. Delegation, time management and enforced deadlines are one way to complete the project.
Speaking to the members in class, face to face closes off the option of "sorry I didn't see your text/email". Enlist the instructors help if you have to.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I definitely didn't say it would be easy.
You don't want to do the whole project, which I understand. But you seem hesitant to expend the effort to ensure that the group pulls it's weight.
Group work sucks but it is assigned to teach us how to manage time and work with our peers. Delegation, time management and enforced deadlines are one way to complete the project.
Speaking to the members in class, face to face closes off the option of "sorry I didn't see your text/email". Enlist the instructors help if you have to.
yeah...that doesn't work lol. We had each question up divied up for everyone in the group, everyone knew their role. No one does it. So I am to e-mail the instructor and tattle on these students like a 3rd grader? The only person that will look bad is me.
You cannot force people to want to work as a team, I have seen this time and time again in nursing and in school. Many people are just plain lazy and want to do the bare minimum. My firm delegation adn example of efficiency isn't going to make them want to be top student all the sudden. They want A's but want other people to do the work to get them.
You don't want to do the whole project, which I understand. But you seem hesitant to expend the effort to ensure that the group pulls it's weight.
Group work sucks but it is assigned to teach us how to manage time and work with our peers. Delegation, time management and enforced deadlines are one way to complete the project.
Speaking to the members in class, face to face closes off the option of "sorry I didn't see your text/email". Enlist the instructors help if you have to.
The problem is these people are going to be with me throughout nursing school for 2.5 more years. I don't want to make enemies by going to the teacher. I feel like outside of school it's easier working with people!
Avoiding group projects, as with all things in life, comes down to marketing yourself. After my first term I learned to tell the professor, "I really would like to do this in group, but with everything going on my life - I work full time, I have a wife and a kid - I just don't think it is fair to ask my classmates to work their schedule around my crazy life. So to be fair to them, maybe I better do my own." It is a rare professor who refuses to let me go my own way after that.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
Avoiding group projects, as with all things in life, comes down to marketing yourself. After my first term I learned to tell the professor, "I really would like to do this in group, but with everything going on my life - I work full time, I have a wife and a kid - I just don't think it is fair to ask my classmates to work their schedule around my crazy life. So to be fair to them, maybe I better do my own." It is a rare professor who refuses to let me go my own way after that.
The worst girl I worked with didn't contribute anything, at all. We finally managed to convince her to show up 15 minutes early for the class so that we could at least tell her when to speak and which of our slides she was presenting ...but she didn't even show up for that. When we called her to find out what was going on, she answered, but said that it was a "wrong number" (the girl had a very distinct voice and accent).
She was horrible while giving her part of the presentation because she'd never seen the material before. But the icing on the cake was her cell phone ringing while another group member presented. We were horrified! ...but even more so when she ANSWERED THE CALL in front of the class and had a brief conversation.
Every member of the group was supposed to get the same grade, but luckily the instructor made an exception.
Rest assured that a good number of individuals who slack on group projects would not be inclined to do so if it were not a known fact of life that they can get away with this behavior. I put most of the blame on those instructors who make no effort to enforce standards for this 'busywork'.
I know how you feel. From elementary school through college, I've always been stuck doing all of the work for group projects. It's simply not fair.
What you can try doing is making yourself the unofficial leader of the group. Divide the work equally among all group members. Give everyone a deadline of when to have their part of the work completed and agree to meet up. This deadline should be made well in advance of the actual due date. That way, if the work isn't done or is of low quality, then there will be time to correct it.
If your group is not even making an effort to carry their own weight, then speak with your instructor. Tell your instructor that you've attempted to get your group to cooperate, but all they do is come up with excuses. Also tell your instructor that your classmates won't learn anything if they feel they can simply have you do all of the work and get the same grade as you without having to do anything. It's not fair to you or them.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
our presentation was yesterday and I think it was pretty clear who didnt do anything lol. We had to grade eachother and I graded appropriately but ultimately it's up to the professor. I did get an email last night from one of the group members who literally copy and pasted her section off the internet (thanks for plagirizing) requesting to have my study guides for this lecture test because she is failing. I wonder why.......i deleted the e-mail, these people really have no shame. The study guides comes directly from the notes the professor provides us! You just cant get more lazy than that.
futurepsychrn, ADN
188 Posts
My school fixes this problem by having everyone in the group rate the others and it is counted as part of the grade. The rating is done anonymously and although you know it was someone from your group you don't know who. They usually make the rating about 10% of the grade. Makes the slackers sit up and take notice!