Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why do I have to do these team activities?

A: Employers frequently requests professors to help students build better skills in teamwork. If you cannot work in a team, your career is limited.

Q: Do I have to work in a group? Can I work alone?

A: Yes, you can work alone. You have to meet the same requirements as groups. You can "opt out" for any stage before the stage starts. Once you opt out, you have to work alone for that stage. You can opt in later for another stage.

Q: How are teammates decided?

A: The instructor will assign teammates for each stage. You will have different teammates in each stage.

Q: Can I work with my best friends?

A: You must work with the teammates assigned by the instructor. You cannot choose your teammates. Studies have shown that students learn better if they have no choice in their teammates. They know more classmates better, make more friends, and learn new ideas from different people.

Q: Why are you so restrictive?

A: The purpose of the team assignments is to give you experience in the "real world."  You usually have no choice about your colleagues when you start a career.  If you are really successful and get promoted, you will have more freedom choosing your colleagues.

Q: Changing teammates in the middle of a semester is absolutely crazy.

A: Go to work in a company and learn the reality. In the fast pace of technology development, changing teammates frequently is normal. You may be promoted to join a new team. Your teammates may be promoted to another project. Another team may have members departures and some of your teammates must help that team.  Your teammates may leave the company to pursue other opportunties. Your temmates may be laid off or fired. You may be laid off and start in a different company. Your teammates may be injured and have to take several weeks off. There are many reasons your teammates may change. It is the best if you can learn how to handle the situation now.

Q: Do we change teammates four times during the semester?

A: Correct. The purpose is to help you understand different working styles, make more friends, and learn from your classmates.

Q: I am much better than everyone else in the class (or in the world). Why do I have to work with other people?

A: You can work alone.

Q: I don't want to be dragged down by my teammates. I want to get A+.

A: You change teammates in every stage. If your team always has problems, maybe the problem is you. Maybe you need to improve your communication skills. Maybe you need to think differently. Some people think they are good team members but they are actually terrible. You may discover something about yourself during this semester.

Q: I am the best and I will do all the work and my teammates will get a free ride.

A: This means that you need to develop the skills to delegate. You need to know what your teammates can do and give them the appropriate tasks.

Q: I am not as good as my teammates. What should I do?

A: Study harder so you can quickly become as good as your teammates. Find your strength and contribute. Discuss with your teammates to identify what you can do.

Q: My teammates drop the course. What do I do?

A: Team assignments will be updated as needed.

Q: I still think you are crazy to change teammates four times during the semester. How can any team work in this environment?

A: This is an opportunity for you to write documtation and code that can be understood by other people. If you write mysterious code without documentation, your team will encounter problems.

Q: Do we have a team leader? Who chooses the leader?

A: Your team decides the leader.  You are encouraged to volunteer to be the leader.

Q: Do I have to use the same order of the pieces in stages 2 - 4? My stage 1 generates them in a different order.

A: Yes, you must use the same order as specified here and the orientations must be the same. This is necessary for stage 4 competition.

Q: Can a player select to play a game with only 4-square pieces?

A: No. A piece may have 4, 5, 6, or 7 squares. The player has no control.

Q: Does each piece have the same chance of being selected?

A: Yes. You should use a random number generator that produces a uniform distribution across all possible pieces.

Q: I used C++ (or Java) in stage 1. My partners for stage 2 want to use Java (C++). What should I do?

A: This is good for you. You become an expert in both languages.