I have had the opportunity to work on assignments individually and collaboratively this semester in FNDS 6233. When working by myself, I sometimes wish that I had a partner so I could tell him or her ideas and receive feedback. Working with my team, I am able to hear the different opinions of my team members. This allows me to think outside of my current thought processes and analyze the idea from a different perspective. Working with my team members can take more time. Instead of being able to start an assignment at my leisure, I have to coordinate with other group members and find time to discuss the objectives of the assignment. Technology has made this easier through the use of asynchronous tools, however, this still requires planning and coordination. My personal preference for learning is to learn the material on my own, and then discuss what I have learned with others. The team experience allowed me to do this, and opened up new ideas on topics that I had not thought about. Although team experiences require more work and planning than individual work, they also provide a greater learning opportunity. I sometimes cringe at the idea of a team project, but after its completion, I look back and see what a great learning experience it was.
