.         Despite the thrill of successful collaboration, many students have experienced dread when a teacher announces an upcoming group project. In order for groups to work effectively, lots of pieces have to fall into place. That’s why many kids cringe when a collaborative assignment is announced. Whether it’s difficult group mates or a tough subject, there’s always an obstacle to be overcome when working with others. Still, the hard work that comes with completing group projects can also lead to more satisfying results. We interviewed Westfield students and teachers to understand whether group projects are worth the headache.

.         When asked how often she’s assigned group projects, Sarah Van Buren, 12, remarked, “I get assigned to do group projects around two to three times a year per class. Some classes do more than others, but this has been my experience as of recent years.” Many other students agreed with Van Buren, mentioning that around two to three large group projects per quarter is common. 

.         Despite not being assigned as often as partner or single projects, kids have had quite a bit of experience working with others throughout their student careers. This has led many to develop a preference for what type of projects they favor under certain circumstances.

.         When asked if he preferred group projects, Connor Dunn, 12, stated, “I don’t really have a preference on group or single projects, it really depends on workload, topic, and who’s in the class.”

.         Kate Nguyen, 10, added, “There are some classes where I find group projects to be tolerable, but normally I prefer working independently because I find that it saves time on planning and having to communicate with people in your group before coming to a consensus. On the other hand, being in a group with friends who you feel more comfortable with and will divide up the work fairly to save more time can be nice, although it might cause more distractions.”

.         Dunn reflected on an issue that can come with students choosing their own groups, stating, “If you are starting a project where you get to choose your groups, there is a lot of pressure to have friends to group with. I’ve had my fair share of projects where I was stuck with people I didn’t know or like just because my friends chose each other over me.”

.         Teachers are also aware that certain subjects can and should be more group based, while others are best taught on a more individual basis. Jessica Naeve, English teacher, heads Yearbook but also teaches AP Literature. She talked about group projects in her classroom, remarking, “Yearbook is like one big group project, it’s a project based class.” However, she also mentioned that she never assigns group projects in AP Literature. Her reasoning for this leads us to two more questions: Why or why not are group projects assigned, and are they worth it?

.         In regards to AP Literature, Naeve asserted, “I don’t [assign group projects] because [I] cannot assure that everybody shows what they know. Generally by this age you have a couple people doing all the work and a couple people coasting.” This idea links back to what Warren mentioned earlier about one person bearing the responsibility for most of the work in a group project. 

.         Many students agree this is certainly a problem when it comes to group projects. Allison Nguyen, 12, commented, “Sometimes people don’t contribute as much as they should.” According to Marshall Duersch, 9, when this happens “everyone can end up doing bad.”

.         On the opposite spectrum from Naeve, Benjamin Kagan, Biology teacher, usually assigns group projects once or twice a quarter. He gave his perspective, stating, “I think collaboration is a good way for students to learn how to get along with each other, especially in the real world. Unless you have a job where you’re going to work at home by yourself, collaboration is something you’re going to have to deal with for the rest of your life.”

.         Van Buren came to a similar conclusion, noting, “I think that teachers assign group projects to put us in a learning environment similar to the jobs we will have later in life. As adults we will need to be able to solve things as a team and collaborate with others, so I believe that the group projects are worth doing.”

.         Nikki Warren, English teacher, falls between Naeve’s and Kagan’s ideas, mentioning that she likes “to give students the opportunity to choose to work in a group.” This allows students to be as productive as possible because it lets them work in their preferred learning environment. 

.         It’s clear there are ups and downs to group projects, but many agree that they’re good to incorporate in the classroom. . 

.         Justin Neil, 12, stated, “In a class environment where teaching is mostly independent, I think group projects would be a great addition, but only in moderation.”

.         Allison Ngyuen noted that “a variety of projects, group and independent, are necessary.”

.         Although Kate Nguyen has her doubts when it comes to group projects, she concurred with her peers perspectives, stating, “Sometimes I think that group projects can be pointless when they make students work more than learn from the project, but I do agree that having some group projects every once in a while can open up our minds and allow us to learn from each other.”

.         Student and teacher opinions regarding collaboration vary from class to class, and the fact that viewpoints change depending on the subject and people displays just how nuanced each group project is and why they can be both difficult and rewarding. 

.         While many agree that collaboration is beneficial, preference of group or single projects varies. So what makes people actually enjoy them? 

.         Nave shared a perspective into why teachers might benefit from assigning group projects: “I believe that people assign group projects because they take up class time which leads to less instruction time. And then you can grade one thing and apply it to many people, so there are fewer assignments to grade.”

.         Regarding student opinions, Van Buren weighed in, commenting, “I like group projects because I get to highlight my creativity, which would go unnoticed in most of our other assignments in class. They are a great way to bring fun into learning.”

.         “Usually I like them because I meet new people. Sometimes we don’t meet eye-to-eye, but it’s a learning experience,” Allison Nguyen states. This comment reveals that students can still enjoy group projects even when challenges between group members crop up.

.         For Duersch, group projects are too much of a hassle to be worth doing on a regular basis. “I don’t like group projects because there’s just to much you have to organize and you can’t really do your own thing,”

.         Duersch’s point is a reminder that the largest aspect of a successful group projects is negotiating with others and not just “doing your own thing.” Cooperation amongst group members is what decides if a project will turn out well and be enjoyable to work on.

.         Neil commented on this, asserting, “Productivity, chemistry, and cooperation between group members are, in my opinion, the most important factors to consider in a project. When a group has all three attributes, their completed project will most likely be one of the best in the class. However, if either workflow or camaraderie is lacking in a group, the success of their project will be more uncertain.” 

.         Dunn elaborated on group chemistry, mentioning, “I really do like [group projects], but if they are with people who I don’t mesh with it’s a different story.” This displays that the people in a group really do matter and whether or not they’re willing to work with perspectives and ideas that differ from their own in order to make a great product.

.         Group projects are unlikely to disappear from the classroom because of the benefits mentioned throughout the article. Group projects aren’t only about the assignment, but the many skills one can develop as they cooperate with their classmates. The creativity displayed, perspectives learned, and problems solved are what make group projects valuable. While there are certainly challenges that come with collaboration, the benefits are too great to ignore. In fact, the challenges faced when working with others allows students to become better at finding solutions within groups, a vital skill many use throughout their life.