Did the prof drop a group project on your head? Silly you. Think COVID-19 would save you from the terrifying group project where the sanctity of your grade rests on Zed and his beer can smashing cranium? Yeah, good luck with that.
We’re kidding. It’s going to take a lot more than luck to pull off a group project while social distancing. Fortunately, we can offer you something much more substantial: 4 techniques to master your group project in the age of social distancing. Don’t worry, bud. You’ve got this.
Utilize Technology
The technology exists to save your sorry butt. Apps like Zoom, Facebook video chat, and WhatsApp make connecting virtually easy and free. Instead of Ohio University’s Alden Library, you can instead meet on the couch in your apartment in Athens and not physically be near a soul.
Break the Ice
With any group project, you need to first break the ice to get people to warm up to one another. Start your Zoom meetings with some conversational icebreakers — your major, your favorite OU hangout spots, how you’re surviving all alone in your student rental. Once you’ve gotten to know each other, talk about the project and your goals. Brainstorm. It might help if someone takes notes and shares their screen — a virtual chalkboard that everyone can collaborate on.
Stay Organized
Any group project depends on organization, but this can be a challenge when you are physically apart. Fortunately, apps like Trello make it easy to organize as a group. With Trello, you collaborate on boards. Share to-do lists. Know where everyone is at with the work. Trello works to keep everyone on the same page in the cloud in real time.
Treat a Virtual Group Project Like Any Other Project
One of the easiest ways to master a virtual group project is to treat it like any other group project. Assign tasks and follow up. Network through text messages, emails, and virtual meeting apps. Get together on a regular basis to hash out your ideas and the progress on the project. This is easier than you think if you don’t let the social distancing aspect get away from you. The beautiful thing is you can still have a great project and hardly ever leave your apartment or go on campus. It’s off campus living at its finest. In fact, you don’t even have to be living in Athens Ohio to do it.