Foo - F'in group projects

Wow. I have never been so livid. My group project just got a 40/60, despite the heart and soul i poured into my end of the deal. Two people in the group really screwed up their parts, and the rest of the group got the bad rap for it. AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what?

this is why i do not join groups. do all the work yourself so ya know it's done right.

this is why i do not join groups. do all the work yourself so ya know it's done right.

In some classes, like the one I'm taking now, it's required. I, too, hate group projects of any kind. You almost always get stuck with some moron who just wants to talk about how much pot he smoked before class.

I just wrote a paper that was supposed to be 5 pages and done in a group. I ended up writing 4 of the pages and tacking their wrinkled dribble on the end.

Shoot me.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

There are important lessons to be learned in working as a group. I don't think you're learning them.

I recently did a group project, DID ALL OF THE WORK. Told the teacher, got all there points(normal grade 4x WOOT!!!!!) they got nothing!

The important group lesson, there will always be at least one useless slacker in the group. Probably more.

Heh, reminds me of my college days where I was the only one in my group who knew WTF I was doing.
Mechanical engineering senior design project and both my partners had no clue what a worm gear was or a torsion spring...

The important group lesson, there will always be at least one useless slacker in the group. Probably more.

That's what I learned.

Also, this little lesson: Not all men are created equal. Some are created lazy and use group assignments as a way to try and bring my grade down so that we're equal.

That's what I learned.

Also, this little lesson: Not all men are created equal. Some are created lazy and use group assignments as a way to try and bring my grade down so that we're equal.


Contrary, we are CREATED equal, it's in what we do that defines achivers or slackers.

There are important lessons to be learned in working as a group. I don't think you're learning them.

Rev Chuck gave us the most important one. Call me judgemental, but during several "group" projects I did while I was at university, I had to deal with this very problem (although it wasn't an issue when I was able to work with my regular study group). The solution is to pass judgement on others early in the piece. If people in your group are getting poor marks in their individual work, there's a reason for it. If you can be prepared to pick up their slack when you get the project as opposed to leaving it until the last minute, you'll have an extra four weeks or so to sort it out.

The other thing I noticed is this. If the slackers see that you're going to deal with the issue whether or not they contribute, they'll generally try to do something constructive. It's called leading by example.

In no way is this related, I just don't feel like opening another thread. Does anyone here really believe in ADD and ADHD? I truly do not, as I feel it is just ramifications of the ever shortening attention span, due in part to newer technology and pop culture. I have gotten into HUGE arguements about this.

In no way is this related, I just don't feel like opening another thread. Does anyone here really believe in ADD and ADHD? I truly do not, as I feel it is just ramifications of the ever shortening attention span, due in part to newer technology and pop culture. I have gotten into HUGE arguements about this.

I reckon there is an attention deficit, but it's on the part of the parents.

I reckon there is an attention deficit, but it's on the part of the parents.


I think the parents are part of it. They whine to the doctor so much that the doctor just gives the kids the medications in order to shut the parent up.

It's also the easy way out for parents who don't want to discipline their kids, just say he has ADD/ADHD. Little Johnny broke your window? Oh, he has ADD, he doesn't know what he's doing so it's ok.

In no way is this related, I just don't feel like opening another thread. Does anyone here really believe in ADD and ADHD? I truly do not, as I feel it is just ramifications of the ever shortening attention span, due in part to newer technology and pop culture. I have gotten into HUGE arguements about this.

I used to be like you and not believe that ANY child was really ADD or ADHD. I never advocated any sort of medication for kids. But I have had about 5 children in the many many years I have taught school that changed my mind about that. They were so in need of help that they could not function normally in school or at home. One of them literally bounced off the walls. All five were referred to special education at some point because they were not learning. Once given the proper doses of the right medication, they were able to learn and function normally, both at school and at home.

That being said, I think that there are WAY too many kids on meds for ADD or ADHD. It is a quick fix for parents or teachers who don't want to deal with normal children just acting like kids. I once had a doctor tell me that my three year-old niece needed Ritalin. She was a normal, healthy, happy, energetic 3 year-old, for Heaven's sake! That was the last trip to that particular pediatrician.

(Trekkie, sorry about your project grade. What a bummer!)

Wow. I have never been so livid. My group project just got a 40/60, despite the heart and soul i poured into my end of the deal. Two people in the group really screwed up their parts, and the rest of the group got the bad rap for it. AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what will you do differently next time?
Tom

When I was in high school, I'd report anyone not pulling their weight in a group project, which luckily didn't happen too often. In college, I went to a nice small liberal arts college where everyone pulled their own weight in group projects I was in. However, if anyone hadn't, I would've had no problem reporting them. In fact, most of my profs had a "grade your group members" opportunity after the project was done.

Yes, I realize that in the "real world" there isn't always an easy way to report someone who isn't pulling their weight. However, much as people like to say that college is preparing you for life out in the "real world" it's really not. College is still a game and to do well, you have to play the game. If that includes "tattling" or whatever you want to call it, that's the way it is. Leading by example is all well and good, but in the end, it comes down to your grade, and if the best/only way to get your grade up is to slam a non-contributing group member, that's what you do.

Yes, I realize that in the "real world" there isn't always an easy way to report someone who isn't pulling their weight. However, much as people like to say that college is preparing you for life out in the "real world" it's really not. College is still a game and to do well, you have to play the game. If that includes "tattling" or whatever you want to call it, that's the way it is. Leading by example is all well and good, but in the end, it comes down to your grade, and if the best/only way to get your grade up is to slam a non-contributing group member, that's what you do.

Actually, the best way to get your grade up is to simply do what the other member wasn't doing yourself. For one thing, it will save a lot of time by comparison with going through all the other channels you'd have to go through as far as "tattling" goes. For another thing, you'll probably do it better yourself than they would have done. And finally, you'll have the advantage of learning from having done their bit, they won't. This will become apparent in the final exam. All you have to do is pick out the bludgers from the outset.