As a teacher, if you’ve ever assigned a group project, you’ve probably seen all the variations on the result. Some groups may click right away, jump into the work, and make real progress. Others may stall. Maybe one student takes the lead, someone fades into the background, and a few linger on the edges, unsure where they fit in.

It’s easy to think the problem all comes down to effort. But more often, the problem is about structure. Most students aren’t trying to avoid work. They just haven’t been shown how to work well with others. And when we hand them a group task without much guidance, they’re not exactly sure what to do.

You see this clearly in math modeling. These projects are meant to be tackled together and require diverse skill sets and perspectives. Success depends on the back-and-forth, the testing of ideas, students’ ability to put their solutions into words, and how they make decisions as a team. If the group isn’t working together, the modeling falls flat. This kind of collaboration needs support. It doesn’t come out of nowhere.

So what throws things off? And how do we help students have a better group experience?

When Collaboration Falls Apart

Group work breaks down for a lot of reasons, but it usually comes back to one of these:

• One student takes over while others hold back.
• No one is sure what their role is, so progress stalls.
• The most confident voice leads, even when others have something to say.
• The group rushes to get it done without really talking through the work.
• Someone gets frustrated, or something goes wrong, and no one knows how to fix it.

If you’ve seen any of this in action, you’re not alone. It doesn’t mean group work isn’t worth doing. It just means we need to scaffold it more thoughtfully.

What Math Modeling Teaches Us About Teamwork

In COMAP’s math modeling contests, collaboration isn’t optional. Teamwork is at the heart of the experience. Teams are solving real-world problems with no clear-cut answers. They have to build models, test ideas, explain their reasoning, and revise as they go. And they have to do all of that together.

Modeling shows us what’s possible when students are working toward something complex and open-ended. But it also shows us what’s necessary: clear objectives, communication, coordination, and a plan.

That same thinking applies to group work across the board. Students can learn to be strong collaborators, but not without guidance.

5 Ways to Make Group Projects Actually Work

Here are five ways to build stronger student teams that will learn how to collaborate effectively.

1. Assign Roles, Then Mix It Up

If students aren’t sure what they’re supposed to do, it’s no surprise things get lopsided. Giving each group member a specific role in addition to their more general collaborative input, for example, like being the scribe, organizing the write-up, reviewing the data, double-checking the math, or being the accountant for seeing that all the requirements are met can help everyone stay involved. And when students switch roles from one project to the next, they build new skills and see the work from different angles.

2. Look at the Work Behind the Work

We tend to focus on what students turn in, but how they got there matters too. Did they collaborate? Did they listen to each other? Did everyone contribute in some way? A quick team check-in or short reflection can tell you a lot. You don’t need a formal rubric, just something that shows you value the process, not just the finished product.

3. Check in Before the Deadline Rush

Instead of waiting for final drafts or presentations, give students a few low-pressure check-ins while they’re still mid-project. Ask who’s doing what. Ask what’s working and what isn’t. These quick conversations can catch problems early, while there’s still time to make adjustments, without turning it into a rescue mission at the last minute.

4. Break Big Projects into Smaller, Clearer Tasks

Telling students to “work together” doesn’t mean much on its own. Try dividing the project into clear steps: brainstorm as a team, then work on smaller pieces in pairs or trios, and come back together to pull it all into shape. This approach keeps everyone involved and makes the project feel more manageable.

5. Make Space for Honest Reflection

After the project is done, carve out time for students to talk or write about how the group experience went. What parts worked well? What didn’t? What would they change next time? These reflections help students learn from the experience, and help you spot where future groups might need a little more support.

When Group Projects Work, It’s Worth It

When group projects are successful, students start to trust each other. They challenge each other. They come up with solutions no one would’ve reached alone. That’s when it becomes more than a project. It becomes practice for the real world.

Yes, it takes effort. But when students learn how to work through complexity together, that’s a win that sticks far beyond the final grade.