Georgia Institute of Technology Communications Essay

Whether we like it or not, from time to time, we are ALL placed into situations where we must work collaboratively with others. For this essay, I ask that you consider your experience with aspecific, formal team. Understand, that I am NOT talking about a sports/athletic team. This could be a formal “work team” of employees who were charged with a specific, on-going responsibility. This might be a small group of students in a class, who were brought together for the completion of a group project. Or perhaps a committee that you have served on for a community or social group. What has your experience been like? What advantages have you experienced as a result of working on a team? What disadvantages? On balance, has it been a positive experience for you? Negative? Some combination? Be very specific. Support your claims with specific observations and experiences.

Additionally, one of the primary reasons that teachers assign group projects for classes (often to the dismay of their students), is that once students leave university, they very frequently find themselves as part of formal groups and teams through their careers and in their communities. So it is important that students have had practical experience working closely with others in situations where there are actual consequences at stake. Given that “group projects” are an important part of your preparation, what suggestions can you offer to instructors at a university, in order to make the “group project experience” more meaningful, equitable, and relevant. Be certain to be very specific. For example, simply saying, “Instructors should make the grading of group projects better reflect differences in individual effort,” is not sufficient. You need to also explain HOW you think this might be accomplished.