Classes were cancelled after 1 p.m. last Monday. Since I have all of my classes on Monday, two of my classes were cancelled. What did I have in my two classes that were cancelled? Presentations. Group Presentations. Group presentations in graduate classes.
This is my third semester taking graduate classes, and most graduate classes have some sort of project. Most of the time, I try to work on these projects individually. It’s safer. I know what needs to get done, and I know what’s expected. However, this semester, I was in a group for both of my classes.
Usually, someone in the group takes charge of a project. I didn’t take charge. Slowly, the weeks go by until the end of the semester, and — to no surprise — final projects are due. No work had been done, despite someone claiming responsibility for parts of the project. Two weeks before: nothing. One week before: nothing. Three days before: the same thing. Thankfully, the presentations were postponed because of the “snow storm.” The project is now almost done.
Some professors address these problems with group member surveys, allowing students to single out group members who don’t do their part. Other professors don’t. Some of my friends have struggled with groupmates that did one slide in a 50 slide presentation with no remorse.
In the real world, group member surveys do not exist.
In any group situation, the problems come down to the same points: communication and dependability. I’ve held leadership positions in multiple organizations on campus, and working together on an executive board is just like a group project. Everyone needs to fulfill their individual roles to help the organization succeed — and when they cannot contribute their abilities, they need to let the rest of the team know. If everyone wants the organization to succeed, everyone needs to work together as a team.
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