 So you've just been assigned a group project for class. Group work requires some strategies and skills that individual work doesn't, so this guide can help. It provides the tips and techniques you need to make sure your project is successful and you get the most out of your group work experience. When most students do group work, they divide up the assignment, work independently, then try to combine the results into something that looks patched together. Imagine you were assigned a project to write a story as a group. If all of you wrote two pages independently and didn't plan the plot, characters, or setting, you would have an extremely confusing story. The key is to work collaboratively instead of separately. In collaborative group work, everyone works together, sharing information, co-creating knowledge, leveraging strengths, expanding capacities. It's a much more rewarding and productive experience. The team creates a really cohesive story by planning the direction, creating a structure, and combining all the pieces of the assignment into a clear, logically connected whole. By sharing knowledge, everyone on the team learns more and hears ideas and perspectives they might not think of on their own, so the story becomes richer and more impactful. Here's how group work benefits you. It offers the chance to explore a topic or idea from multiple angles. It provides the opportunity to interact with diverse peers and perspectives. It helps you create something bigger or better than what you may have been able to do on your own. As a result, you broaden your horizons by learning from diverse ideas and different perspectives. And you strengthen your interpersonal, planning, organizational, and leadership skills. And you enrich your learning and your outcomes by co-creating knowledge and resources with others. Learning these skills will prepare you for any future group work you may encounter, whether at school or in the workplace. A lot goes into group work, and sometimes students find it overwhelming. But this guide will help you develop the foundational skills you need to succeed. They fall under three key areas. Understanding the team, communicating effectively, and planning the project. These elements complement each other in an ongoing way throughout a group project as you build your interpersonal skills and manage project outcomes together. By participating in a collaborative group work experience, you will create a better, stronger result and a more inclusive space for everyone.