Issue |
Comment |
| Do we have complementary skills? |
You want to have a team that has all the skills necessary to complete
a project. They include:
- Idea generation - Able to generate multiple ideas
- Presentation - Able to organize a good oral presentation
- Mathematics - Able to analyze problems (using math or similar analytic
skills).
- Graphical representation - Able to produce hand or computer drawings
- Coordination/Facilitation - Able to help the team work together
- Writer - Able to document the project in words
- Organizer - Able to structure and track a complex process
|
| Do we have similar interests? |
This is particularly important if you're choosing your own project. It's
less important if the project is assigned to you, although a discussion
may still be worthwhile because it will help members make satisfying choices
for the necessary tasks. |
| What experience do we have? |
This is clearly related to the "skills," but discussing it explicitly
may uncover very helpful prior experience that bears on the project. |
| How serious are we? |
Face this one up front. If you have different goals (e.g.different grades
for which you're working) you're likely to argue once you're in the process
if you haven't resolved them sooner. Try and agree on a group goal for effort
- even down to expected hours per week devoted to the project. |
| Can we meet regularly? |
It's really important to meet regularly - ideally twice a week in addtion
to a meeting with your advisor. Do your schedules allow it? Commuters and
athletes often have the greatest difficulty this way. |
