Strength is apparent in numbers and it always has been.
Throughout the history of human beings, people have always worked in groups. Therefore, it would only be natural for group work to be assigned in college.
In “The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Hunters and Gatherers,” anthropologists Richard B. Lee and Richard Heywood Daly write that humans as a species are meant to work in groups, and still do.
“Surprisingly, in an increasingly urbanized and technological world, dozens of hunting and gathering societies have persisted and thrive world-wide, resilient in the face of change, their ancient ways now combined with the trappings of modernity,” Lee and Daly wrote.
Groups are able to divide the workload taking away any extra stresses of the task. In a group project, assigning roles and doing research separately can result in a more efficient presentation.
According to The National Survey of Student Engagement, students have more success in college when working in groups.
The data shows how cooperating with others to solve problems prepare students to deal with the real world. This helps students think off-the-cuff when faced with a real life challenge.
When a hard problem is at hand, many perspectives can help solve the issue collectively.
Depending on a person’s personality type, when a professor assigns a group work project, some students may become shy and feel awkward, while others feel encouraged.
Once settled in, regardless of personality, students should feel comfortable that they are a part of a group.
Humans are social beings, therefore individuals who primarily take on tasks can cause one to feel isolated over time.
Better results come from group cooperation. One example of this is the World Wars. Because of their lack of allies, the Germans lost not once but twice.
According to the English Catholic Historian, Lord John Acton, it is possible that a sole individual can be too powerful.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Acton said.
Evidence from human history and statistical data from the present time show that group work is beneficial when assigned in college. Although everyone is different in their own ways and we can all learn something new from one another, as working alone is overall detrimental.
