Group projects have become a very important part of students’experiences and the whole educational system.  Some people say that working collaboratively helps develop teamwork skills and communication, which are essential in life. However, others believe there are negative sides to group projects, as they distract individual learning or encourage conflict. A lot of people say that group projects teach valuable skills that go beyond academic knowledge.  

Firstly, group projects often allow students to learn from their peers and discuss different perspectives and opinions. In doing so, they may also need to face challenges related to disagreements. This deepens their understanding of the topic and broadens their critical thinking skills and encourages collaboration and communication.   

Moreover, diversity of thought encourages creativity, as students are exposed to ideas they might not have considered on their own. By discussing and debating these ideas as a group, they create a stronger, more nuanced project. This collaborative approach not only deepens their understanding of the topic but also makes the learning experience more engaging and entertaining.   

Apart from that, group projects also allow for division of labor that makes challenging tasks more manageable.  For example, each group member (student) individually establishes their potential and works on a field which they are the best at. With that, students can achieve results that might be difficult to reach on their own.  

On the other hand, many students think that group projects are not as ideal as one might think. It is mainly because of students not putting in equal amounts of effort. One of the most common complaints is the problem that in nearly every group project, there is a member who does not contribute as much as the others do, yet receives the same grade. Often, one or two students end up taking on most of the work because they care about their grades, while others coast along. Stress and frustration, which are caused by this, can have an unfavorable impact in any potential learning benefits.  

Sometimes, students also deal with other issues, such as the difficulty of aligning schedules. Between school, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and personal responsibilities, finding times when everyone is available to work together can feel impossible. This results in rushed work and incomplete collaboration, as students may end up working individually and then just piecing everything together before the deadline.  

For students who are introverted or shy, group projects can feel especially uncomfortable. Instead of focusing on learning, they may spend their time worrying about speaking up or presenting their ideas. Some students may struggle to feel heard, while others dominate discussions, which shows that not all voices are equally valued.  

   

 To sum up, group projects have significantly contributed not only within education, but also in students’ lives beyond school, by giving them some essential skills: Learning how to work with others, manage time, and share responsibility. Nevertheless, it is evident that group projects may not be as effective as we think because sometimes they lead to frustration, unequal effort, and anxiety.  

For group projects to be more beneficial, professors need to be aware of the disadvantages of this way of learning and try to make some changes (for example in how students should be graded and what is an appropriate assignment to give them, etc…). As students, we also have a responsibility to communicate openly with teachers about our experiences.  

After communication between teachers and students, group challenges and projects will become more collaborative and entertaining experiences , as they were always meant to be.