It’s a new year, and you know what that means—a list of self-progressing resolutions with the promise of a better you in the near future. Better grades, less procrastination, being more prepared—these are ideal characteristics we’d like to embody for the entirety of our semester. However, I know that for most of us, after about the first month, going out with the gang rather than staying in to finish that paper tends look more appealing.  

Although, sacrificing your Friday in order to finish a paper isn’t necessarily the only scenario. Try not to categorize your life into school v social—it’s not that black and white.  This semester, attempt to find that happy medium.

During your first week of classes, get the syllabus for each, and immediately put mark the due dates into a calendar. From there, try to set your own mini-milestones. It can be daunting to have to sit down, research, write and then proofread a 20 page paper. By breaking it down into a task list, you can complete the paper step by step. One day you can just gather information; another day, pull out key facts; a week later begin an outline…and so on. Who knows maybe you’ll even be so inspired one day to just finish the paper earlier than the usual night before.  Some other suggestions for breaking down those projects into manageable mini-milestones:

• Review project requirements
• Research
• Pull out key facts
• Create outline
• Add the content
• Review!

You can adapt the task list based on each project, or even combine tasks for multiple projects. If you have more than one assignment to research, then spend an hour researching one, and then switch to research the other. It will allow you to keep your momentum going, while using your time efficiently. Just think this semester you could have a stress free life and great grades! By tackling smaller tasks over an extended period of time, you will only have to spend an hour on a task, rather than an entire week. Plus, by getting a head start, it will provide you the opportunity to determine problem areas that you may need to consult your teacher with.

It’s a new year, which means it’s an opportunity for a new beginning.  

With the last group project presented, and final assignment turned in for the night—not a student was near, or even in sight. ‘Twas the end of the semester, and time for a break. Woo Hoo!—no more of those projects we dearly hate!

Now that the semester is over, it’s time to decompress from the hectic schedule that is synonymous with finals. Looking back, do you think your grades are worth enough to get you on the “Nice” list, or does it look like coal on the “Naughty” list? Would you have approached your coursework differently—maybe chosen a different group, tried to be more prepared, less procrastination? Yeah yeah, we all know that you’ll plan better next semester—but we all know how this ends. You will enjoy your holiday season, and before you know it, it’s the New Year and new semester. Still suffering from your holiday hangover, you’ll scurry around to make sure you’ve signed up for the correct classes, maybe get the books and then just play it by ear.

However, we are here to help you get onto that “Nice” list and get those A’s you were hoping for. Answer our questions below to determine the areas you could improve.

1.       Do you have your next semester’s schedule set? No / Yes

Tip: Well, you guessed it—if you selected “No” then you are still on the “naughty” list. Get your schedule set in stone NOW. The worst thing you can do is go into your first week “hoping” to get into that class. If it’s already full, email your advisor—they will be able to put you on a list and slip you on the roster at the first sight of a dropped seat.

2.       Have you placed your next semester’s schedule in your calendar? No / Yes

Tip#2: For those on the “nice” list, you’ve already figured your schedule out; but remember, your calendar is your friend. You don’t want to go through all of that trouble to sign up for classes, and then get dropped because you forgot. Getting back into the scheduled semester groove can take some time after the holidays; so place your weekly courses in your calendar, so that it will have an additional reminder.

3.       Are you books ordered? No / Yes

Tip#3: After the holiday season of purchasing gifts, I assume it’s safe to say that your bank account is looking a little glim. For those who do have money from grandma, the last thing you want is to spend it on books. Take the time to research your curriculum prior to the semester scramble for books. This will provide you plenty of time to look online for a cheaper version, and have it sent before the first day of class. I don’t know about you, but most people don’t like paying that extra overnight fee to expedite, or pay the school bookstore full price for your book in order to complete that paper assigned the first week of school.

4.       Now that you are prepared for the beginning of the semester, do you plan on immediately placing deadlines into your personal calendar? No / Yes

Tip#4: No use in making the same mistake twice. If you found yourself on the “naughty” list, it was probably because you didn’t take time to stay on top of that syllabus. Along with those deadlines, set reminders that those deadlines are coming up a few days earlier. Procrastination happens, but at least this will help you get a head start, rather than showing up to class empty handed.

5.       Have you looked to see what courses you have left to graduate? No / Yes

Tip#5: The biggest incentive in school is graduation. However, you don’t want to get stuck on the “naughty” list because you forgot about that elusive elective that you forgot to take. No one wants to get stuck in summer school for one class, while the rest of their friends are walking the stage, and having their name read on the “nice” list.

 Hopefully, you found yourself with more “Yes’” than “No’s,”–but its not too late to turn your naughty into a nice looking semester ahead of you. 

Happy Holidays!

GroupTable (https://www.grouptable.com) was founded by several UCF students with the goal to create the most effective tool for students to manage their group projects and other groups. In order to help us achieve this goal we want to hear from you!

We’re always looking for ways to improve and enhance your experience with GroupTable. We value and welcome your feedback.

We’re giving away a free iPad 2 with case to a randomly selected user who responds to our survey by November 30th, 2011! In order to be eligible to win an iPad 2, you must have an active GroupTable License. So go ahead and fill out the survey. What will you bring to the table?

Fill out our survey here.

Check out the sweet iPad2 you can win in this video with our co-founder and CEO, David Brim.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we can’t help but allow ourselves to reflect on the people that make us feel grateful for their presence in our lives—family, friends, job, the cop who let you off with a warning. What about the members of your group project?

See how thankful you are (or aren’t) for your fellow group members with the quiz below.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”–Charles Darwin

Evolution is a funny thing.

When I was younger (and I’m not that old), I used to think that I was part of the self-proclaimed innovation generation—the first to grow up with the new technology in the classroom. In elementary school, we were among the first to use computers (resembling an intergalactic cube, that sounded as if it were about to propel itself into outer space) to forage the trail across Oregon—in hopes that our oxen wouldn’t drown in the river. The thing that really gets me is that when we completed our day’s virtual trek across Oregon, we hit save and whipped out our handy dandy floppy disk that had our name hand written across it.

It all seemed so cutting edge—part of the tech-volution. Now, I look back (in what I would like think as a short amount of time) and realize that the floppy disk alone was just the tip of the sword. If I were to even mention a floppy disk to someone in college, I would just get a quizzical “boy, you’re an old fart” look in return. The floppy disk, as a file storage mechanism, has evolved from a colored piece of tech enhanced plastic sandwich square, to a zip disk, and then followed by a myriad of external hard drives. Every year it seems as if there’s a new, smaller, more mobile version of what we had before. You would think that with so much of evolution’s focus on enabling us to be on the go, there would be a better alternative for accessing and sharing various documents without the possibility of losing it.

Now, I know you are probably ready to rebuttal with some sort of snarky wiz-kid comment, but let me counteract by stating, “Yes. There are options out there.” However, these options are not nearly as evolved as the rest of the app-dapted, tech-volved gadgets out there. For instance, you can easily share and store files within your email. However, this seemingly efficient alternative can get messy real quick. For instance, you are working on a group project or planning an event with multiple people, and those emails and documents can add up—especially when a member in the group decides to only “reply” rather than “reply all,” with their revision, immediately creating a whole new thread of conversation (you all know what I am talking about). The only thing email offers to sharing files, is if you are sharing them with yourself.There are also other online document sharing programs, yet these are usually only attainable if you have an email associated with the program. They also may restrict the amount of collaboration—making you resort back to email to discuss any type of strategy.

The ability to store our files needs to adapt to the lifestyle the evolution of technology has created for us. Thumb drives are great, but if a file has the chance to be left on your desk, or the inability to be changed as a team’s strategy evolves, then they will not survive much longer.

Programs, such as GroupTable, are on the path to reinventing the way we store our files.  No longer do we need to worry about leaving our presentation at home, or turning in the wrong revision because we got lost in a hectic web of emails. Today, GroupTable has helped students all over communicate, collaborate and complete documents all in one virtual spot–allowing them to revise, save and share from any computer, anywhere.

Finally, there’s a generation of file storage that would make the floppy disk proud of the path that it’s progeny is forging–definitely an improvement since Oregon.

For all of those students who go into the midterm season prepared, say “I!”

All those who got back their midterm, and were less than pleased with their grade, say “I!” again…

Now, for all of those who subconsciously figured that “if I don’t do well on the midterm, I will just make up for it in the final,” say “I!”

…that’s what I thought.

As students, it is in our nature (or maybe just mine) to go in guns blazing, ready to study for that upcoming test, only to spend the entire week pushing it back…and back…and back. Then when you finally do sit down to study it is either a) a social event at the library b) a session of mindlessly material sifting, retaining nothing, or c) spending the entire time on Facebook.  Wouldn’t it be great if there were something that would constantly send us reminders to “study for that test!” or “read that important chapter that you know your teacher is going to test you on.” Something that would mark down all of your tasks deadlines without the worry of remembering to bring it around with you like a planner?  Whats that?…there is?

Getting those top grades, that come with staying on our study track, is what GroupTable finally enables us wayward students to do! I know from my personal planner, that in the beginning of the course, I was filled with good intention and high hopes. Notes such as, read that, review here, study there, peppered the weeks and days leading up to my midterm. Unfortunately, my planner was only useful if I opened it…and even then, I would just pretend like I didn’t see the big “STUDY!” in red, underlined three times.  Next thing I know, my teacher is handing back my midterm with a grade that girls (and lets be honest, guys) usually only look for in their bra size.

Finally, I took a stance and made some huge improvement in my study habits, with GroupTable metaphorically holding my hand the entire way.

1. Scheduled “Study Days”: by allocating the work load over an extended period of time, it makes the work much less daunting. Think of it as exercising—going for a 15 minute walk is better than sitting on your couch b/c you don’t feel like spending an hour at the gym.  Use GroupTable Calendar to set up these “study events.” From there you can make notes on the event wall, and add a notification that will send a reminder directly to your email!
2. Type/Upload Your Notes: for those of us who don’t feel like lugging a computer around campus, take time at the end of your day to type up your hand written notes. This will act as a review, as well as get you more organized. Once you have a saved document you can create a folder in your GroupTable Binder dedicated to the topic, or the class, and upload your notes! Once and for all you won’t have to waste money on a million spiral notebooks and binders.
3. Create a Task List: I don’t know about you, but I am a perpetual “list maker.” Something about striking out a task gives me a great satisfaction and a false sense of productivity. I will write even the mundane down on my list, just so I can “check” something off—like “shower.”  Using GroupTable’s Task List finally made me own up to the important tasks at hand. I was able to create separate Task Lists for each class, as well as set a notification to remind me when something needed to be done.
4. Study Group: As someone who is working all day—and going to class at night—finding the time to get together for a study group is near impossible, aside from completely undesirable. No one wants to spend their Saturday driving/walking all over campus to meet with a group to discuss the Time Value of Money. Finally, someone suggested using GroupTable’s Live Chat feature. So instead of wasting time and gas money, we were able to use our group’s Chat to ask and answer each other’s questions regarding the study guide. Saturday Studying Sabotage avoided.  Thank you GroupTable.

Even though we may think to ourselves “I’ll be more prepared next time” it never really happens unless we have someone, or something, holding us accountable. GroupTable was my accountability check. It reminded me when I needed to spend a few minutes reviewing; I was able to keep all of my notes organized in one place; and I never had to miss out on Sunday Funday because I had to drive to campus for a study group. I had no excuses NOT to study…and now I don’t show up to my midterm thinking “well, if I bomb this…there’s always the final.”

Here is a great review on GroupTable posted on the Montgomery Educational Consulting Blog: How GroupTable Revolutionized the Way I Manage My Group Work.

“As someone who is getting a second round of practice on organizing multiple elements in life, my only advice is to utilize the tools around you—and for me, that tool is GroupTable.”
Read More…

Communication is key:

The hardest part when working with a group—especially if you’re unfamiliar with the members—is maintaining a proper stream of communication. Not only do you run into availability issues regarding everyone’s schedules, when working with people you may be slightly unfamiliar with, it can become difficult to express your feelings and ideas. Rarely does everyone agree 100% when planning a project or event. Try to be open minded and communicate respectfully when making alternate suggestions.

Assign Tasks and Set Deadlines:

Everyone has something different to bring to the table. Use these differences to your advantage when tasking out pieces to the project or event. This will allow everyone to play up what they are good at, and keep them motivated. Once tasks have been delegated, its crucial to hold everyone accountable and on track by setting deadlines and milestones throughout the process—not just the due date.The worst thing that can happened to a project is procrastination.

Make Everyone a Leader:

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians? If not predetermined, the presence of a leader will begin to emerge among the group. In many cases, you find that more than one person thinks that they can do something better. To help thwart a pending problem, be sure to allow everyone the opportunity to feel as if they are leading the discussion—usually regarding their respective task. This will provide a self-efficacy among the individuals in the group; rather than a hostile take-over.

Keep Organized:

Staying organized seems to be the most overlooked detail when approaching a project. People assume that their individual organizational skills will be enough to keep things in order—wrong. Many times groups neglect to create a predetermined protocol for sharing documents, maintaining communication, etc. By addressing this issue from the very beginning, you and your team mates will all be on the same page when sharing a new revision, or updating the time for your next meeting.

Go Virtual:

In today’s society, working remotely is essentially the way of doing business. Between the variety of hectic schedules and deadlines among the individuals in a group, most turn to the internet to conduct meetings. With the vast options the web has to offer, its essential that your group designate a primary mode of working virtually while in between team meetings.The meetings themselves can even be virtual. Be efficient with your time and use the available technology to your advantage.

GroupTable has made Huddlemind’s Top 10 Best Classroom 2.0 Applications List.  Huddlemind  is a specialist social-media education and eventing company. They also own and operates a Social Network of Educators and Organizational Development practitioners at huddlemind.net.

Here’s Dave Duarte (Co-founder of Huddleminds) list:

1. Udutu: Easily author and publish courses online

2. Engrade: Web-based tools for educators – including tools to keep track of marks and publish assignments

3. Haiku LS: Easy, elegant learning management system

4. GroupTable: GroupTable is a web-based software and success network developed specifically to help student groups improve document management, project planning and communication.

5. Edufire: Learn online with live video

6. Global Classroom: Create elearning centres to train staff or clients.

7. Schoolrack: Manage class mailing lists, calendars and assignments in one place for both teachers and students.

9. Studeous: enhance courses with tools like live chat, discussion boards, podcasting, and text messaging.

10. Edmodo: Free private micro-blogging (like Twitter) for teachers and students.

Thanks for including us in your list Dave Duarte!

How much do you and your group like GroupTable?  Now’s your chance to tell us and win some cool stuff in the process.  We will be having two contests from now until December 1st.  Below are some of the prizes we’ll be giving out and how you and your group can win.

NHL 2K9- xBox 360 game

How the Individual Contest Works

1. Create a video discussing the following
   • What you like the most about GroupTable
   • How GroupTable has helped your group
   • A short message convincing others why they should use GroupTable
2. Upload your video to youtube
3. Post the video on your Facebook profile
4. Become a Friend of the GroupTable Groupie by clicking This Link
5. Message GroupTable groupie through Facebook with “Game Contest” notifying us that your video is posted on your profile

On November 21st the contest will be closed to entries and we will select the top video to win the game.  We’ll announce the winner on December 1st…Good luck!

$60 Gift Card to Darden Restaurants

Darden is the owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and other fabulous restaurant chains.  Encourage your group to participate in the contest and you may win a free lunch on us.

How the Group Contest Works

1. Create a funny video showing the hardships of group work without GroupTable.  This can include:
   • Distractions at a meeting (people talking about desperate house wives/football/ bf or gf etc)
   • Schedule conflicts making it hard to meet
   • How inefficient communication is bc of too many repetitive phone calls or long email threads threads
   • Anything else you can think of is fair game.
2. Then show how great group work can be once your group is using GroupTable.
3. Become friends with “GroupTable groupie” on Facebook by clicking: This Link
4. Message “GroupTable groupie” with “Group Contest” in the subject line indicating your video is posted on a group members facebook Profile.  Also include the link to the profile so we can view the video.

On November 21st the contest will be closed to entries.  We will pick the best three videos and notify the group through Facebook on December 1st.

We also encourage all of you to become a fan of GroupTable on Facebook.  You can do this by visiting our Facebook Fan Page here.

We hope you guys have fun with this contest!