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1. When the project is assigned, reread the project description and rewrite it in your own words (particularly if you are not sure what the project is asking).
   1. This may help you think through what the project wants and/or pinpoint where the confusion is so you can ask the instructor later.
2. Figure out what tasks need to be completed and/or which project management strategy to use.
3. Add all due dates to your Google Calendar.
   1. In cases where only the final deadline is provided, try to assign yourself some deadlines. For example, let's say you are doing a research essay project that is assigned at the beginning of the month and due by the end of the third week. By the end of week one, have all of your research materials collected. By the end of week two, have your rough draft finished. Several days before the essay is due, have the final draft (i.e., your rough draft is closer to the final product) finished and look over the project requirements to see if there is anything that was missed. If you did miss something, get those things added to your project. The day before the essay is due, re-read your final draft for any grammatical issues and submit your essay.
   2. Treat due dates as hard due dates (especially the ones you assign yourself).
      1. Without some sort of consequence (ex, if I do not complete X, I cannot do Y), you are less likely to follow through.
4. Be diligent. Do not put off doing tasks until the last minute.
5. If you have a question, ask!
   1. The worst thing to do is spend several weeks completing a project only to be handed your grade back and see that something was missing or not exactly what the instructor was looking for.

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1. Meet with your Group early and often (the below, with some modification, is also true if you are working on a project by yourself)
   1. Try to meet as a full group at least 3 times: Once to get the project started, again halfway before the due date, and again about several days before the due date.
      1. At the first meeting:
         1. Identify a group leader. Make sure that they are up to the responsibilities!

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               title Click here to see some of the Group Leader Responsibilities...
               Choose a Project Management Strategy or Strategies (and stick with it!) Assign tasks to members Make sure that members agree to the task(s) before assigning it to them. A group member that agrees to do a task will likely do better than a member that is volun-told Write down/record who is in charge of what task(s) Schedule additional meetings to help everyone keep up-to-date and coordinate on the project This may mean sometimes meeting with members individually since it may be difficult to align everyone's schedule to meet as a full group Try to schedule the second and third meetings as early as possible. This way, there is less of a time conflict when they come up Keep or assign someone to keep good meeting notes and share them with the group later on The easiest way to do this will probably be to record any and all video meetings and/or use a Google Doc. Communicate often with the group This can be through email, but keep in mind that there is a lot of email coming in, so it may be beneficial to use a group text message, Slack, Discord, Google Chat, or Microsoft Teams If you use these chat services, make sure you install the app for these on your phone to get prompt notification Some of these services will also let you quickly assign tasks to group members and do other project management things Be prepared to help where needed and help group members stay on task

               
               

         2. Identify the major tasks and break them down into smaller components
            1. Be as granular or vague as you need
            2. Make sure that everyone understands the purpose of each task
               1. This could be done verbally, but it is probably best to have a brief description of each task.
      2. The second meeting should be a check-in
         1. Use this meeting to catch up with members and see where they are at
         2. Also, use this time to clear up any misunderstandings with assigned tasks and/or project requirements
         3. Identify if anyone needs help or if tasks need to be re-assigned/re-evaluated
      3. The third meeting is the final check-in/review
         1. All tasks should be completed/near completion at this point
         2. Identify if anyone needs any last-minute help
         3. Review the final product and be prepared to submit any required materials
   2. These meetings can be in-person or video chat or a mix of in-person and video chat as needed
      1. If you do an in-person meeting, try to reserve a study room at the library. Most come with a TV and/or Whiteboard, this way everyone can see what's going on, and important information is not missed.
2. Use a Shared Google Drive for group projects
   1. The biggest difference between a regular drive and a Shared Drive is a Shared Drive gives everyone equal ownership over the items in the shared drive. This way, if a member leaves or has an emergency and becomes unavailable, other members of the group can continue working on and accessing the project. 
3. Create and use a Calendar in Google Calendar specifically created for the group to help keep track of due dates
   1. Make sure that EVERYONE knows that you are doing this and acknowledges that they will check it
   2. Add due dates and check-in dates

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