In high school, group work will often be assigned in some classes. This is not good for students and ultimately does not let them succeed to their full potential. Whether the project is taken over by one student or some students don’t try at all, it is overall harder for students to understand the topics.
Although group work is widely viewed as an essential aspect of learning and seems helpful on paper, the reality is that overall participation often makes group projects ineffective. Research done by the American Psychological Association shows that, typically, in large groups, the work is distributed unevenly. Whether that be because some group members push work off onto everyone else or someone takes control of the project, equal experience is not given in this setting. In addition to being unfair, group work can detract from each individual’s learning experience. If one member of the group is answering questions without explaining themselves, that knowledge is taken away from the rest of the team. Another aspect of the unfair nature of groupwork is the fact that the entire group receives the same grade. If one person does their share of work and another doesn’t, why is it fair to punish those who did what they were supposed to? The easiest way to avoid this is individual work.
Group settings are not made for everyone. Placing an introverted student into a group, especially of people they don’t know, can cause layers of more anxiety and take away from their learning experience. Some students may not agree with how others are working, but are not comfortable speaking up about it. This is confirmed in a study published in the Communication Monographs Journal, where they essentially prove that being scared to speak up in group settings is not a fear but a physical response the brain has in certain people.
High schoolers have a lot going on in their daily lives, including sports, social lives and homework from other courses. Working with others requires teamwork from each person, meaning finding time to come together outside of school to work on the assignment. According to research done by the Centers for Disease Control seven out of ten high school students report that they did not get enough sleep. When teachers add work that includes moving one’s schedule around just to meet up to work on the assignment,it ultimately leads students to more stress. Preventing this would mean making the group assignment a priority in class time in order for students to feel more comfortable going home knowing not to stress about finding the time to meet one another.
Although group work could be beneficial for growth in teamwork skills, it has more downsides. In order for students to feel more comfortable, understand topics and fully succeed in a class, it is best to avoid group projects as much as possible. Working independently can ultimately lead students to grow more in their character and academically.