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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:42 pm
Today's roundtable discussion involves working in groups versus working alone.
The Scenario: In one of my classes, the teacher told us that we have to work in groups of three on a powerpoint presentation to be shown during the last two days of class. One person in the group writes a paper on our chosen topic, one person does the powerpoint thing and the other gives the speech to the class.
The Conundrum: Now, when I was told we'd have to work in groups, my inner Star Wars fan immediately said "Oh, I have a bad feeling about this" and it turns out that Headhunter was (as usual) right. I did my part of the project (the powerpoint) and one of the other members did hers (the paper) but we've heard hide nor hair from our speaker in the past two weeks to make sure he's actually going to show up the day of our presentation, which is this Thursday. It should also be noted that when we were organizing ideas for the project we got no input from the third person so we just proceeded and when we finally talked to him in class he was like "All right, that's cool."
The Grim Outlook: So it looks like the two of us are going to have pick up the slack where necessary and split the speaking portion up evenly between the two of us unless we hear from this guy either today or tommorrow. I'd have no problem with this except that I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING almost to the point where I don't even want to show up on Thursday now.
This is why Headhunter works alone, 21+ neutral
Discuss:
1.) Unreliable people and how they screw you over
2.) Forced groupwork in school vs working on a project by yourself
3.) Having to do stuff that's well out of your comfort zone
4.) Public speaking and why it sucks (or doesn't)
5.) Star Wars
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:01 pm
To be honest, I've been that guy who didn't voice his input, who didn't show up to the group meetings, and who's entire presence didn't matter until the final day, and it's a bad position to be in. Years ago, I had to work on a group lesson plan for behaviorally disrupted students, and wouldn't let me do anything for the first two meetings. Finally, I got fed up and told them I'd see them the day of the project and didn't go to any team meetings, or answer my phone when they called, until the day of. I'm not saying that you guys did that, but most people feel embittered when they get the less than desirable job of presenting because it makes them feel like they weren't smart enough to actually contribute in an intellectual way. I wouldn't worry too much though, because unless he wants to fail too, I don't think he'd leave you high and dry.
I perfer solo projects because that way no one can tell me that my idea sucks, but also because I can't blame others for my mistakes. The only time I like groups is when a majority of the group is smarter than me so that I can learn some new ways of doing things that I do or don't understand.
As for pubic speaking, I have to disagree. I love pubic speaking; everything from monologues to dissertations to karaoke. Most people hate it because they hate making fools of themselves, but I'm already a fool, so I don't have much to worry about. ^_^
Oh, and Hayden Christensen was a pansy.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:22 am
90% of the time, I HATE group projects. Generally speaking I'm the outcast in a lot of classes. I'm also a procrastinator. I don't like working on a group project because then I feel responsible for other people's grades. Although I'm a good grade junky, I do take some consolation that if I do botch up- only I suffer.
I dunno, I prefer to work quietly, in my own way. Until I come down with D.I.D. (dissociative identity disorder) I'm good about not rejecting my own ideas too.
As for your situation- I can understand that guy that never shows up- we had one in a group project for Public Relations. We just planned to go on ahead without him.
I actually like presenting as long as it's something I have some knowledge about-- but I was a Thespian in high school so I rather enjoy "performing". I get into the mind set when presenting that I'm playing the role of some well-spoken expert on a subject matter. Perhaps you should envision that you are Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, or even James Earl Jones- some well spoken man with a really cool voice.
Which bridges us to the final segment campers- James Earl Jones- BEST VADER VOICE EVER.
The tragedy of the prequels were that some very decent actors (Ewan, Liam, Natalie) whom I have seen do fantastic work (Big Fish, Les Miserables, V for Vendetta) came up flat and pointless. Padme and Anakin had a very beautiful love theme song-- but no chemistry. Now, one must envy the princess of honey buns because young Harrison Ford and young Billy Dee Williams were delectably handsome studs. Seriously, rugged and smooth- grrrrrrr baby. Uh sorry, shouldn't write fan-girly posts during hormonal time.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:20 am
The slackers generally get weeded out once in the work force - else they become your boss (as in my case). Most of the time people know who has done the work, if not, then it is time to fight for fame. 
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:16 am
Dafthank To be honest, I've been that guy who didn't voice his input, who didn't show up to the group meetings, and who's entire presence didn't matter until the final day, and it's a bad position to be in. Years ago, I had to work on a group lesson plan for behaviorally disrupted students, and wouldn't let me do anything for the first two meetings. Finally, I got fed up and told them I'd see them the day of the project and didn't go to any team meetings, or answer my phone when they called, until the day of. I'm not saying that you guys did that, but most people feel embittered when they get the less than desirable job of presenting because it makes them feel like they weren't smart enough to actually contribute in an intellectual way. I wouldn't worry too much though, because unless he wants to fail too, I don't think he'd leave you high and dry. I hope thats the case, in that he just shows up tommorrow and does what he's supposed to. He was sent another email, but we haven't heard from him yet. I can certainly understand about getting the least desirable job, but in all fairness the teacher told us a week before she handed us the project assignment sheets what our assigned groups were and that it would be important that we show up for class when she explained the project because the three parts would have to be divided among group members. When only 2 out of 3 people for my group came to class, we just went ahead regardless with each taking our respective tasks and he got the speaking part by default. AntoniaMerEnfant Which bridges us to the final segment campers- James Earl Jones- BEST VADER VOICE EVER. The tragedy of the prequels were that some very decent actors (Ewan, Liam, Natalie) whom I have seen do fantastic work (Big Fish, Les Miserables, V for Vendetta) came up flat and pointless. Padme and Anakin had a very beautiful love theme song-- but no chemistry. Now, one must envy the princess of honey buns because young Harrison Ford and young Billy Dee Williams were delectably handsome studs. Seriously, rugged and smooth- grrrrrrr baby. Uh sorry, shouldn't write fan-girly posts during hormonal time. I think the writing if largely to blame there, well that and Hayden's previously mentioned pansiness. If George Lucas had just come to me to write the prequels, I'd have gladly done so free. Sure, they'd have been MUCH more violent and probably would have involved a cult and demons of some sort...but still.... Sablara The slackers generally get weeded out once in the work force - else they become your boss (as in my case). Most of the time people know who has done the work, if not, then it is time to fight for fame. It seems that way some of the time, but sometimes it seems like the slackers get ahead anyway because of who they know. neutral
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:36 pm
UPDATE:
Everything worked out. He came through and the presentation went off without a hitch.
As you were, citizens.
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:43 pm
i´m not a big fan of group work.
last time i did it we were a goup put together of outcasts, well that worked we met seperate the work changed email adresses and met a second time to prepere the presentaition.
but most of my group works didn´t work. if someone didn´t appere or care we often decited to leave their name out of the presentation.
i guess groupwork is great if everyone has a similar goal/motivation.
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