What’s the best method to use while working on group projects? Paper feels so ancient. Laptops feel like we’re all separate yet trying to work together, and apps can cost money. How do we finish a group project when we don’t know what to use as a team?
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL PEOPLE, especially if everyone wants to use a different method. My previous article used GIFs to identify group member types, but in this article, I’ll focus on the pros and cons of using paper, laptops, and apps for group projects. Hopefully this will help you all come to a decision.
Paper
Pros:
A good old pen and paper helps you remember things better. For example, if this group project were to lead to a *dreaded* presentation, you would remember the topic better than you would if you typed everything. It allows for more freedom to write in the margins and modify things as you brainstorm as a team. When your group holds the first meeting, having a pen and paper is usually best. That way everyone can see what’s being done and can add to it. It feels more like a group effort this way.
Cons:
This tactic only works if the group is physically working in the same space. That’s not always the case. Sometimes group projects are take-home affairs, which means working separately. Paper will not always be the best for these circumstances.
Laptops
Pros:
This tends to be the most common method for completing assignments. If one has access to the internet, they can connect with anyone, which also includes your group mates (hooray!). If you divvy up the assignment and make sure everyone has a part to work on, this can be done easily from home. You can even set up a Facebook Group (who uses FB anymore?) or email group mates when you’ve completed your part. After all, sharing is caring.
Cons:
It’s hard to have direct and instant interactions with your group mates. Everyone has different schedules which means that laptop work may be completed at different times. You don’t want to be waiting until someone finishes their part at 3AM before you put the whole project together.
Apps (G Suite)
Pros:
Apps can include everything from note-sharing to group work. Some of them cost money, but G Suite apps such as sheets, docs, and powerpoint—which allows multiple users to work on the same doc at the same time—is free and can be used by anyone with an account. These apps allow changes to be made from mobile devices, which makes it accessible anywhere—even offline! If you have the Google Chrome extension, you can save changes to your doc without wifi. You also control access to the document so that it’s only being seen by people you want to see it. It’s easy to use and built on the Google Cloud platform, making it secure.
Slack is also an excellent app for group projects, offering an easy-to-use group chat where files can be shared efficiently.
Cons:
If your group members aren’t comfortable working on an online document, this could pose an issue before the project even begins. Not to mention, these apps work best when you have a connection to the internet rather than offline—working offline offers many limitations. It also holds a more limited amount of hangout features compared to an app like Slack. On the other hand, with Slack’s multitude of conversational features available, there is room for distraction. This can take away from a group’s productivity. Either way, apps have cons too.
Whatever your group project is may help you determine the best way to approach the workload. If you’re meeting in person, then using paper is probably best. With divided parts, a laptop works just fine. However, if you need to be in constant communication in order to share files and work as a team (but can’t physically meet), then an app is your best bet.
Either way, you’ve got this!
