Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 15:11:50 GMT Server: NCSA/1.4.2 Content-type: text/html CSE567 - Working in Groups

CSE 567: Principles of Digital Systems Design

Carl Ebeling, Fall 1996

Working in Groups


Most of you have had some experience working in groups, and you may or may not like it. There are obvious reasons for working on homework and the project as as a group, but it does take work to make things go smoothly. If you put some effort into make the group work, I believe that you will find doing your work this way much more fun, interesting and ultimately rewarding. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end of an explanation from a friend, you will be learning more than if you were working alone.

In your first group meeting you should spend some time talking about how you are going to work. You should start by assigning a group coordinator. This position can rotate among the group members if you like, but there needs to be one person who takes the lead scheduling meetings and deciding on how the group should proceed. This person is not the boss, but tries to form group consensus and makes sure that what needs to get done gets done. At least once every week you should set goals and expectations for the group for the next week and discuss how each person will contribute. You should also take time to review how the group is working and decide on changes. Groups that don't work well together usually don't because there are conflicting expectations within the group. You need to talk these out. By the way, although email can be very useful for communicating, it cannot replace group meetings. You must meet at least once a week, and probably more.

When the group hands in a homework or project assignment, put the names of everyone who contributed to that assignment along with the amount contributed by each member. Normally credit would be spread out evenly. But if the group feels that one or two people have done more than their share, then they should indicate this. I will not pay great attention to this unless the amounts are way out of balance. I may use this in the end to nudge certain grades up a notch.

I know that many students resist the idea of working in groups. Here are some arguments often raised and my answer to them:


cebeling@cs.washington.edu