8 Tips for Online Group Work

Wondering how to get more out of group work? These tips can help!

BY: Ellika Barlow

One of the benefits of BYU-Pathway Worldwide is the opportunity to work with other students from all over the world. In many of your courses, you’ll be assigned group projects. These group projects are a great opportunity to meet other people, learn to work as a team, and get creative.

 Here are eight tips to get the most out of online group work.

1. Be honest and respectful of everyone in the group. If you have a different opinion, speak up! Multiple points of view can help create incredible final projects.
   
   
   

   Collaborating with group members can be difficult. Technology makes it easier.

2. Ask your instructor if you can be assigned to a group of students with similar schedules or time zones (if possible). It’s easier to coordinate group work when you can meet in real time.

3. Be proactive! Meet as soon as possible to get started. Getting started early will give your group plenty of time to coordinate, plan, and complete your project on time.

4. Pick a group leader. This group leader can help get meetings started, delegate assignments, and follow up with everyone in the group chat. Always rotate leaders for each project if you stay with the same group all term.

5. Communication is key! Ask for clarification, reach out if you have questions, and remind each other of upcoming milestones and deadlines.

6. Involve your instructor. Updating your instructor on your group work can help you make sure you’re on the right track.

7. Schedule extra time for group calls and check-ins toward the end of a group project. This will give you the time to address any last-minute issues with the project.

8. See it as a learning opportunity! Group work will teach you how to work with other kinds of people on a team — a skill that will surely come into use in future jobs, church callings, community projects, and more.

What have you done to make group work successful?