TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Making group work palatable From:KAREN_OTTO -at- HP-SPOKANE-OM2 -dot- OM -dot- HP -dot- COM Date:Wed, 4 Dec 1996 09:08:46 -0700
Item Subject: cc:Mail Text
One thing I noticed when I was interviewing candidates for jobs was
that every time they had a group project, the dysfunction of the
groups was always discussed in the interview.
Certainly, the smoother talking candidates usually said something like
"I had to take leadership..." or "I had to do all the work myself...".
My guess is that teams that were truly successful in collaboration
were rare.
What I really learned from these people was that even though group
projects were assigned, NO ONE was given training in how to work
together on a project. To me, this is a fundamental job skill. It is
also a skill that is not being taught, neither by family nor the
school system.
If you insist upon doing a group project, please give the students at
least a chance for success by providing training or access to training
on how to work together. Make sure that part of their grade is
dependent on their individual work, their team dynamics, and the final
result.
Teamwork is hard to learn. Please don't just throw them in the water
and expect them to win an Olympic race.
