For any teachers that might be on here, why do you assign group projects?

Question

Why do teachers assign group projects. One kid always ends up doing all the work. Do you ever think of the kids (like me) who may not have alot of friends and end up getting stuck with slackers
? Why do you do it?

i'm in high school (sounds like you are referring to college) and it makes me feel bad when teachers say get into groups and me, the shy quiet kid, is left standing there and has to be assigned a group in front of the class because he couldnt find one.

Answer 1

In every area of our lives, it is important to be a "team player." Whether you are with your mate, your mate and children, your co-workers, supervising a work group or playing a game of cards, it's necessary to learn to share the work load, cooperate, have social skills, learn to deal with less than perfect people, and solve disputes. Group projects are a good learning experience which can help you cope with being an effective "team player" throughout your life. If you're having a problem with one student doing all the work, suggest choosing a leader for your group project and then ask for volunteers to do various aspects of the project. If there are no volunteers, assign each member of the group with a responsibility.

Answer 2

I'm not a teacher, but a lot of kids ask my teachers this, so I'd thought I'd respond to it.

According to my english teacher, the point of group work is to be able to work together to accomplish one goal. Most group work projects, or assignments are done in class so the teacher observes how everyone works together. But the point is not to get one person to do all the work, even though it ends up that way, but to have everyone work together, and build social skills; something that is needed out in the business world.
In a group, it helps that every member is different and therefore can be able to contribute to help the group accomplish the goal. Like for instance, if one person is good at organizing, that one does the group meetings and such. If one person is good at researching, that person gather information.. if one person is creative, that person helps spice up the project.. and so on.
I would assume also that most group projects have a presentation along with it, and in the presentation, every member has to take part in it, so if the person that is doing all the work does most of the presentation, usually it lowers the whole group grade for not working together.

According to my math teacher, if someone was struggling with math, group work helps because every member can help each other figure the problem out. My math teacher would set a group with various grade: one person with a low grade, another with average, and one with an A. That way, if the person with the low grade is struggling, that person can recieve help from their peers.

I hope that answers your question a little bit.

*Additional: I can understand how embarassing to not be able to get into a group, but sometimes, it does help you socialize with people. You never know when you will find a friend from it too.
But in high school, there tends to be most slackers, so your stuck there. I would say in a group work, try to give everyone a part in the group work, and if they dont want to help, then do it yourself (no other way) and know that you benefitted from it, and when it comes to test or exams, they'll be the one with the bad grade. Sometimes its funny when the slackers are stuck with no answers and you have all the answers..

in other words, on being stuck with the slackers, sometimes life is unfair, but sometimes at the end, you benefit from it.

Answer 3

It's the worst when you're the only sane and intelligent person in the group. They'll say the dumbest crap, and you have to try to save the project without coming right out and telling them they're saying the dumbest crap.

I don't assign group projects very often, but when I do, I usually don't give them an actual grade for it. It's simply for developing a deeper understanding of a concept. One reason teachers assign group projects is to break up the monotony of the lecture/learn style of teaching. It gives students the chance to collaborate with one another, and there ARE times when students learn from one another during the project. It can easily be overused, especially when you're relying on the "smart kid" in the group to get the bulk of the work done. Like you, that kid resents the work.

Answer 4

I'm a teacher and a student (currently working on my PhD) and I thoroughly agree with you. As a teacher I rarely assign group work and when I do, it's generally partner work, so that it is obvious who is not doing anything. As a student, I am constantly telling my professors that group work is useless and I have read the research and the studies, but my belief is like yours -- it's hard on shy kids, hardworkers, and students who really attach a lot of worth to their grades. Slackers, get a free ride.

I would suggest to you that you talk to your teachers, privately, and explain that you are uncomfortable with group work and that you learn more and more efficiently when working alone. Some teachers will respect this and allow you to work alone, some will give you the old song and dance about team work is a life skill you need to learn. But try it.

Good luck

Answer 5

Collaboration, teamwork. Teachers don't know which kids are the slackers, but we can root them out in team projects that allow for students in the upper levels of college to really put some good projects together and practice being in a collaborative environment in the workworld. In freshman classes, yeah, it's a pain in the butt. You have a lot of hangers on, slackers who let you do the work. Break the project into parts. Then, provide us teachers with who had what part, okay? That way, we will give those slackers the F they deserve. The project won't get completed--but you will have done your part. OR--figure out how to manipulate and cajole these people into working with you to get the whole thing done and you will have learned what it's going to be like living in a society with slackers, and more slackers, in it. If you can manipulate them in class--you will go far. Tom Sawyer knew what to do.

Answer 6

Reasons I assign group work:

Students gain more from group thinking -- they brainstorm better, they see another persepctive on the activity, and they can see variety in each other's work.
Teamwork is an important skill (and required in the field I teach).
Grading -- If group work is done, SOMETIMES it is easier to grade.
Learning styles: Some people learn better and are more at ease when they can work as a group. Some are not.

I like some group work, and some I can't stand. A LOT of it depends on the structure and expectations. I prefer to put people in groups for exploring new ideas and in class work. I do not like to give extended projects that must be worked on outside of class to a group, due to scheduling conflicts and such. It takes a lot of time to divide up large tasks and come to a conclusion of what is reasonable for each person, what allows each person to make use of their strengths, what resources can be accessed and when they can meet, etc. I would rather create an opportunity for them to explore things as a group, but report as an individual.

There are times when we have in cass activities and I will say, "You can work in small groups or by yourself, do what works for you." This give them some times where they can have a choice -- of course can't always be that way! HA!

Answer 7

I am a teacher, and I thoroughly dislike group work. I rarely -- if ever -- assign my students to work in groups. No matter how much supervision is given to the groups, inevitably there will be one student out of each group that does the brunt of the work, and at least one that does absolutely nothing. I also feel it is not fair that individual members of the group's grades depend on the other member's of the group's performance. Even if the teacher says they are grading based on individual performance, how can this truly be accurate when all are working together?

Answer 8

they are assigned because in the work force you will be working in group over 80 percent of the time regardless of what you do for a living there are slackers everywhere get used to dealing with them now and later is much easier and way less stressful that is the way the majority of the world gets work done at also tells teachers a bit about the personalities of their students

Answer 9

I happen to agree with you and hate group projects but schools are under the gun to keep kids busy and a lot of administrators like group projects because they think it teaches team work and engages the slower students. I personally think it makes it look as if the group is busy but only the one doing the work actually learns anything.

Answer 10

I rarely assigned group projects. However, when I did, each one had to account for what they did.

A lot of kids like group projects--even the ones that did most of the work--those were my overachievers.

But I do agree with you, I had group projects in college and did not care for them at all.