Self-help kit Group Work

Self-help kit Group Work

• Tip 1: Getting to know each other

  It is important to get to know each other before you start working together. If you know each other better, you can work together better.

  You can just shake hands and mention your name, of course, but it is much more fun to pay a little more attention to the introduction. For example, ask about someone's work and hobbies. Or why that person is taking this course or when they prefer to study. Even more fun is to play a game. Check out this website with random introductory questions and play it with your team. Be curious about each other.

• Tip 2: Your role in the team

  Check for yourself and with your groupmates how you work as a team. Consider questions such as: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you always start your tasks on time, or do you wait until the last minute? Are you a perfectionist or does "good is good enough" apply? Do you usually go for an 8 or is a 6 enough for you? Do you take responsibility quickly or do you often wait and see? Can you motivate yourself? Complete a questionnaire together. Download the questionnaire 'The Starting Questions', created by a group of VU students, and fill it out together and discuss it. 

• Tip 3: Making mutual agreements

  It is important to make clear agreements with each other and write them down. During the first working group, where usually all team members are present, it is useful to create a WhatsApp group chat to easily stay in touch with each other. After this you can think about the collaboration. Consider questions such as: What do you expect from each other? What days and times are most convenient for group work, when do you meet? What do you do if someone does not keep the agreements? Schedule two or three moments in advance to discuss how things are going. Also do this live and not just via WhatsApp! Download the document 'Making group contracts' to get started quickly.

• Tip 4: Give and receive feedback

  Giving and receiving feedback is an important part of working together. Talk to each other about your agreements while working together. Give constructive feedback! What is going well and what can be improved about the collaboration? And be open to feedback you receive and try to learn from it. Reflect on yourself and your teammates. Watch this short, animated video on giving peer feedback to see how to do it.

• Tip 5: Determine roles

  Define the roles for the collaborative project. At least roles such as chair and notary for meetings and someone to monitor and drive progress. Do not be afraid to develop yourself and try each role at least once during your studies. Let others practice their roles too! Download and read the documents 'Group Roles' and 'Collaboration Skills' to learn more.

  Working well together not only means that everyone does their work well and on time, but also that you consult and make decisions effectively as a group. This is not always easy. Group members may have different opinions about the problem, the approach, the solution, or about certain details. About anything, really. Download and read the documents 'Meeting Techniques in Group Work' and 'Group Decision Making' to work effectively together and to be able to make decisions together - especially on complex problems.

• Tip 6: Help from your teacher

  Is the collaboration proving troublesome? First, try to solve this yourself with your peers. Talk to each other about those things that are not going well (see tip 4 on giving constructive feedback). The most important thing is personal growth! If it still doesn't work out, you can always approach your teacher. They are there to help you.

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