How To Successfully Approach Group Projects In Online Degrees

Many online degrees can be completed entirely independently on your own time and with minimal interaction with others. However, there are a few degrees where collaboration is essential, and this is typically taught via group projects. These projects teach students how to work together and solve problems in a group setting. Collaborating with others can be tricky when studying online, as it adds a different dynamic compared to on-campus programs. Fortunately, with some planning and strategizing, overcoming the most common challenges and achieving success is possible.

What Are The Most Common Challenges For Collaborating on Online Projects?

Differences in Time Zones: Unlike on-campus programs, students from different parts of the world can attend many online degrees, which means time zones can be challenging. This can lead to issues trying to schedule real-time discussions and delays when waiting for consensus from everyone on decisions. 

No In-Person Communication: While there are numerous ways for students to communicate online, it can be challenging to pick up on non-verbal cues that would be obvious during face-to-face interactions. This could sometimes lead to misunderstandings or miscommunications, which may cause friction. 

Technical Issues: Unlike in-person collaboration, online collaboration can be hampered by technical issues such as connectivity, software glitches, or hardware limitations. It also requires everyone to be familiar with the same collaboration software that others in the project are using. 

Uneven Commitment: Participants who don't have the same levels of commitment to the project are not unique to online collaborations, but this setting can amplify the problem. Some students might feel like they are pulling more than their weight, while others will have excuses for not being able to commit as fully. Since there's no in-person interaction, some students will feel less accountable for their actions and more willing to slack off. 

Ethical Issues: When working in a group, students might encounter ethical issues, such as members cheating or engaging in plagiarism, which can negatively affect everyone involved in the project.  

What Are The Best Strategies For Success In Online Projects?

Set Clear Goals: For a group project to be successful, everyone involved must clearly understand the goals and how to achieve them. Not establishing this from the start can cause confusion and delays. 

Assign Tasks: Not assigning clear tasks to each student involved in the project can result in resentment and an unbalanced workload. The best way to do this is to establish each member's strengths and assign tasks based on their skills. It also helps to ensure that each task has a secondary person who can fill in temporarily if needed should someone run into unexpected issues. In the process, group members can also get to know each other, which helps keep things running smoothly.   

Set Milestones: Instead of having one deadline for the completion of the project, which can result in last-minute work, set a series of milestones for everyone to achieve. Doing so will ensure that the project progresses steadily and that everyone stays on track. Some last-minute changes and unforeseen delays can be inevitable depending on the project's scope, but these can be easier to handle with milestones. Finally, celebrating milestones can help boost the group's morale and motivate everyone to keep delivering their best work. 

Stay In Contact: Communication is vital for group projects to ensure everything is progressing according to schedule and that participants can address issues that crop up. This also helps keep everyone accountable and reduces the risk of miscommunication, which can cause problems. Also, don't hesitate to communicate with the instructor if any uncertainties or challenges need to be addressed. 

Use the Right Tools: It is important that everyone involved in the project uses the right tools for collaboration. For example, Google Drive could be used for document sharing, and Slack can be used for real-time communication. Using the same tools ensures everyone is on the same page and can streamline the group's workflow. Make regular backups of any work that is done and encourage group members to keep local backups of their work.   

Address Grievances: Conflict may arise in any group setting, but ignoring it or not addressing it correctly can cause resentment that is detrimental to the project. If there is any tension, make sure to handle it promptly and try to reach an outcome that is satisfactory for everyone involved. Keep things focussed on the project instead of making it personal, and don't hesitate to use outside help to mediate if necessary. It is also possible to ask your professor to implement mandatory peer evaluation to ensure individual accountability in the group. 

Set Boundaries: While the project is important, it is also worth remembering that boundaries are vital, and some group members might have very limited personal time due to other obligations. Establish early on which times are convenient for everyone to be contacted and stick to these boundaries to avoid burnout or resentment from group members. 

Conclusion

These tips are helpful for successfully approaching group projects in online degrees and will also come in handy in the workforce, where many jobs nowadays feature remote components. This is also why treating the project like a job and taking it seriously is beneficial instead of trying to get away with doing the bare minimum. Getting to know your group members can also expand your network and lead to opportunities in the future if things go well.