Hello everyone!

We are officially back at school! Which means tests, quizzes and projects. Don’t worry – if you plan your schedule right, you’ll be fine. Today I want to talk about group projects.

Many students have group projects to work on. The thing about group projects – they can go really well… or not so much. As a Simulation & Game Design student, I have plenty of experience working in groups. I want to offer some tips for successfully working in a group setting, so you can have a good time with your group and get the project done.

Tip #1: Know who you’re working with

Most of the time, you may not have the option to choose your team mates. But if you can, choose team mates that you are willing to work with.

Tip #2: Create a group contract

Although not always necessary, having a contract for your team will help the team members come to an agreement, and come up with conditions when one member fails to do his/her part of the project.

Tip #3: Communication is key

Working in a team can be tricky. One thing that is important to keep in mind is remembering to communicate with your team members. Communicating with them will ensure that all team members are aware of your situation, and that everyone is on the same page. I suggest creating a group chat either on Facebook, GroupMe, Google Hangout or any program or software that allows group chat.

Tip #4: Create deadlines

One thing that could be included in the group contract is a list of deadlines. Setting specific dates for milestones to be completed by will help team members know when something should be finished.

Hopefully these tips can help you work in a group setting. If you are still struggling after following these tips, check out the Center for Academic Success (CAS) for more ways to work in a group.