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:Eric Haddock <eric -at- ENGAGENET -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 3 Dec 1996 15:39:02 -0600
I don't know why, but I don't like group projects in the school setting.
It's an odd quirk because I play well with others out in the real world.
It's just group+school=distaste.
The times I had to do group things, what made it more palatable for me
was to have something of my own to turn in in addition to the group
project. I could do my own thing, have my own voice--get my own grade more
importantly--and still participate in the group.
In your example, if I were in your class I would feel better being
grouped with people completely outside my major. I'd be very eager to be in
a group of people who're unlike me because I would be getting totally
different perspectives. This would help me greatly in the real world
because--especially as a TW--I'm likely to be grouped with non-TWs.
Appreciating foreign perspectives would be helpful. I've already stepped on
engineer toes but had I known better to begin with....