After reading Where Good Ideas Come From, by Steven Johnson, I learned about the basic building blocks that most good ideas are made out of. For example, having groups or a network of people can help make an idea better by putting every point of view into account. However, it got me think about all the group projects I've ever been in. Personally I enjoy working in groups because projects that require creativity are open ended and can have many interpretations just from one person, so imagine with two or more other people. But I do know not everyone likes working in groups for a variety of reasons. What do you guy prefer?
I left some questions below to help you guys out, but you guys are of course free to take a spin on whatever you guys want! (Questions underlined are for groups, ones in red are against. The question with both is open for both sides.)
Pros for groups? (Please say something other than my reason)
Would you prefer any project (not creative) to be in groups?
Do you think working with your friends make it easier or more troublesome?
Cons for groups?
Do you have a bad experiences from group projects? Do tell!
Given the option, do you work alone? Why?
I prefer to work alone only because throughout the years of being able to do a group project, I have never really liked the idea of taking or applying someone else's idea to something I am going to work on. If it is a tough project then maybe I will consider a group or partner, but I also love a challenge of being able to do things on my on without others relying me. I also think it is a hassle just because what if you don't know the person you are working with? You'd have to exchange contact info and set a time or place to finish whatever it is we need to do and to me I think it is too much. Personally, if I have trouble, then I will ask someone or the teacher, no biggie. I know that in groups you get to meet new people and make new friends, but I find it kind of awkward. I actually admire the fact that you love group projects Catalina, it shows how you can be open to anything.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to work in a group if and only if the people around me are putting in the same work ethic as me. I want to work with people that are motivated to finish it with me. Working in a group allows new ideas to be spread and allow hunches to combine. However, I would rather work alone when I am surrounded by people who want me to do all of the work. Also sometimes it is easier to work alone because the aren't as many distractions while working alone. All in all, I would be happy with either working alone or working in a group based on the people I am working with.
ReplyDeleteI prefer working in groups when everyone is willing to put in the effort to earn a good grade. However, group work can be tricky because not everyone wants to put in the work and effort.
ReplyDeleteI prefer working alone, because I find that when I do work in groups I get easily distracted by those off task. I also like knowing that when I work alone the effort I put into an assignment will get graded accordingly unlike in a group where if someone doesn't put much effort into an assignment the grade of everyone in the group becomes hindered. When I'm given the option to work alone I usually do, because I know when I work alone I can get assignments done faster. I'm not against working in groups, because I like the idea of dividing up work and putting it all together in the end like a puzzle. I think it really depends on the people I'm grouped with and whether they have the drive to finish the assignment. I find working with friends a lot more enjoyable and comfortable. However, I know that it will take longer to finish an assignment, because I usually get distracted or off topic when I work with friends. In the end, I would prefer to work alone, but I wouldn't mind working in a group.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence. I don't mind working alone or in a group. When I work alone, the task usually gets done quicker and I don't have to worry about everybody else. Also, I would rather be graded individually because sometimes working in a group could be unfair if another person slacks off. If somebody does something wrong or doesn't do it at all my grade is jeopardized by it. However, it is a group effort so it would be everybody's responsibilty to tell that person to quit it and start doing his/her work. Working in a group can be very useful and fun. There is a larger flow of creativity and ideas that are put into the assignment. Also,
ReplyDeleteI find it helpful if one person isn't able to do a part of it then somebody else can do it instead. There were many cases where I couldn't type an assignment, and my partner offered to type it instead. As long as I get the work done and get a good grade on it, I'm fine with working in a group or by myself.
I am always 50/50 about working in groups. It depends on who is in the group with me. Also, it depends on how big the group is. If I just have one partner, I'm usually okay because I have to discuss my ideas with one person, and it's easier to come to a mutual agreement in a group that has less people. Clay Shirky (who wrote Here Comes Everybody) makes a strong point in the beginning of his book that the bigger the group, the more complex it will be. The more complex it will be, the harder it is to manage and agree on ideas. With this in mind, the people that end up in a group with me really determine if I'll enjoy the whole experience or not. Whenever we're assigned group projects, I hope for open-minded partners that try to stay on task.
ReplyDeleteLots of group work in AP. Lots of independent work too. There's both, and this is how the world works--college, business, nonprofits, your AP class--we all work in groups, and we work on our own. If you hate working in groups, you have to figure something out, because there is no escape.
ReplyDeleteIf you hate working in groups, I hope your birthday is in the first part of the year and you're reading Here Comes Everybody. Shirky speaks quite eloquently and persuasively about this group phenomenon: "We are so natively good at group effort that we often factor groups out of our thinking about the world. Many jobs that we regard as the province of a single mind actually require a crowd" (16).
My book just happened to be opened to that page just now.
If I had to choose between the two, I would rather work in a group. I like working in groups because the work load isn't as heavier and it can be divided between the group. Also, working in groups allows a leeway for myself. If I know I can't do a certain part of the project, I'll offer to work on a different part of the project instead. Versus working alone, I would have to figure out how to deal with the problem myself, without someone else's help. Working alone has its benefits too. When I work alone, I know I can get the project done a lot faster without anyone interfering. Unlike when I work with a group of friends where I can get easily sidetracked from the project. Another thing I like about working alone is how the grade I receive is only based on my work ethic while a group's project grade is based upon everyones effort as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI like working alone better than groups because I don't have to rely and worry about if someone else is pulling their weight in the group. By working alone, I am the only one who can get the grade I want and deserve for my work. I finish my work faster, more efficient, and the way I like it. I can work in groups too but I don't prefer it for many reasons. One of the main reasons is because sometimes not everybody in the group will do what they were assigned to do. The grade the group gets is factored by how much work everyone put in, and one person can be responsible for bringing an entire grade down. Working in groups can also be fun but I think the cons outweigh the pros and therefore I would rather work by myself to get the grade I want for the project.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy working on group projects once in a while but I would rather work alone. I'd prefer to work alone because I wouldn't have to depend on anyone and no one would have to depend on me. Group projects are fun when everyone in your group is contributing and putting their fair share into the project. It also might help get the project done faster because there are more hands. However, when the group doesn't work as a whole other people have to pick up the slack and it's unfair if the group gets a bad grade because not everyone helped or gets a good grade when not everyone helped. Overall, if everyone puts in the effort and stays on task then I won't mind working in a group as much, but I'd much rather work alone so I can work at my own pace and get the grade I want.
ReplyDeleteWorking in a group of friends could go either way. If you work well with your friends, you could do the project like machine work. You know who's good at what and how thing's will turn out and work quickly. Unfortunately there's the downside to working with friends which is when you talk most of the time and get barely anything done. It might just depend on the group of friends you're working with. You could know that everyone wants to get it done and do it well.
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