Are Group Assignments Helpful for Students in the Long Run?

Assignment writing is an integral part of a student’s academic year. This is a common form of coursework that the educator assigns to the students. It can be of many different forms; it can be a group assignment, a research paper, an essay or even a case study. Depending on the course’s requirements, the educator assigns the tasks that fit. But not every student likes doing group tasks; some might enjoy working on them while others do not. This poses an important question: Are these group assignments really helpful for the students in the long run? This article will try and put both sides of it to help understand the impact of group assignments on students’ learning skills.

Benefits:

•Better collaborative skills: The biggest benefit of working on these group tasks is that they help develop relevant skills. From teamwork to leadership skills, it has got it all covered. Even in working life, one has to work with colleagues and make a team effort to get the work done. Hence, these tasks act as a practice ground for students to learn key skills. 

•Brings forth new ideas: In a group, there tend to be different ideas or viewpoints. This point makes the student question or critically think. Further, this helps the students learn from each other and share their skills and ideas with others. Which helps in broadening their understanding of the topic. Moreover, this also exposes them to many issues where they can improve their problem-solving skills.

•Teaches time management: Working and handling different tasks at once requires patience and time management. Here students learn to meet their deadlines and divide the work to effectively finish it on time. Organisation and dealing with deadlines are key skills that are valuable inside and outside the academic environment.

•Develops research and writing skills: Researching is a key part of learning and writing an assignment. To find ideas and resources, students look for online databases, books, articles and other materials. Further, to effectively work, they also have to use online tools like paraphrasing tools to edit and refine the work. These are a great learning step for students as they improve their writing skills and make it more academic.

Challenges:

•Unequal work distribution: One of the common issues with group assignments is its unequal distribution of work. Many a time there is an imbalance in the division of work. Some students may end up taking on more work than others. This defeats the whole idea of working in a group. Plus, it also impacts the quality of the work and can lead to a tense working environment.

•Compatibility issues: There is a possibility of the students not getting along in terms of different opinions or conflicts. This diverts the student’s mind from learning and makes it a forced task. Some students might not feel safe and accepted in the group, which can further increase the problem.

•Dependency on others: In group tasks, each of the students is dependent on the other. There is a chain system that links all of them to the final product. And more often than not, the results may vary because of the inadequate contribution of a member. It can be frustrating for other menders to keep the workflow going and learn at the same time.

•Issues coordinating: Another issue can be finding a perfect time for coordination. Different members have different schedules. Which makes it difficult for all of them to join the meeting anytime. Either a communication error or a lack of effort can disturb the workflow.

How can group assignments help students prepare for the future?

Although working on group projects or assignments is not the best experience for every student, it is still an important task. Despite the challenges, these group projects instil good skills in a student. From learning how to write a thematic essay to doing experiments, it offers a dynamic learning space. These skills equip students for future studies as well as a working environment. Both of which require group efforts and collaboration. Considering the many benefits, it is safe to say that group projects are not a waste of time but rather a learning experience.

Lastly, like any other task, group assignments come with their share of pros and cons. But when it comes to learning, this same task can help improve the students’ critical thinking and leadership skills. Assignment writing is an important part of one’s school life. This helps one self-learn and do better as a student. Thus, with proper dedication and effort, group assignments can become quite fun to work on.