Dante Estrada | Long Beach Current
Note: This advice column draws on the insights and experiences of the Current’s staff, offering practical and relatable guidance. As the column grows, we plan to feature questions and stories from our readers, creating a space for honest conversation and shared experiences with a little support when you need it most.
Q: As the semester starts to wind down, a lot of my professors are starting to introduce group projects. I am acquainted with many of my classmates, but I do not know whom to approach to increase my chances of doing well. How would you go about forming a strong project team?
– Oddly Competitive
A: A lot of my peers say that group projects are the bane of their existence, but if done correctly, group projects can boost your grade by a significant margin. You might be friends with some of your classmates, but when it comes to group projects, it helps to know who you work well with.
In my mind, choosing a strong project group is a lot like setting up a team formation in a video game. In running teams, there are indispensable roles, such as the DPS (attacker who delivers the highest Damage Per Second), the tanker and the healer.
A balanced team would not have all attackers or all tankers; rather, it would have members who each make a valuable contribution.
For example, if your final project is a presentation on statistics, it would help to approach someone who is comfortable speaking in class. Even if they do not say the correct answer 100% of the time, having a strong presenter on your team makes it easier on everyone else who will be up there with you.
In addition to recruiting a strong presenter, it would help to have at least two team members who know the material well. This way, they can coach the presenter beforehand, which is crucial for high marks in the post-presentation Q&A.
Something people often forget when choosing groups is that it is unrealistic to form a team composed solely of the highest scorers in your class, which is why it is important to approach diligent students who lay low but are willing to do the work.
Ross Garner, professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies and OutBac Challenge Course Manager, said, “Groups always have to balance between ‘tasks’ (getting things done) and ‘relationships’ (our daily interactions and overall feel)… Every group is going to have a wildly different culture, but having no culture at all—I find that generates lackluster performance.”
Of course, the results will vary depending on what the final project actually is, but if you are proactive and choose a strong group beforehand, you should be in a good spot to succeed.