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The group project is a much-dreaded component of undergraduate courses, doubly so if students are expected to create their own project from scratch. However, instructors consistently return to the independent group project as an exercise that, if done properly, stimulates student inquiry and cooperation. In this post, I reflect on my experiences facilitating student-led group projects in a biology course and relate these experiences to the commonalities of independent group work across disciplines. I outline four common issues related to independent group projects, then provide the rationale for managing each issue to maximize learning outcomes.
Issue #1: Students Don’t See the Value of Independent Projects
With several classes, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and a social life to manage, we can imagine why undergraduates may prefer working on a prescribed project rather than one they design themselves. Independent projects require a lot of brainpower and effort, and we are all likely inclined to gravitate toward projects in which we can work on each step in a straightforward manner. Much of the work that students will encounter outside the classroom, however, requires flexibility and creativity. Using inquiry is essential to translate knowledge into new situations, and independent projects are a great opportunity to practice inquiry.
 Tips

Emphasize the real-world skills that students gain. This can be particularly valuable for students who aren’t necessarily interested in the subject matter but can see the benefits they gain in other areas, such as problem solving and managing a team.
Explain how each component of the independent project emulates a real practice in the discipline. This communicates to your students that you are putting them through this experience to help them develop their competencies, not to waste their time.
Treat every pitfall as a lesson, not as an opportunity to point out deficiencies. If something goes wrong, help the students figure out a way to move forward. Then, ask the students what they learned from the experience (e.g., how to better communicate, the value of a contingency plan, time management) and how they might strategize differently if confronted with a similar situation.

Issue #2: Designing and Conducting Independent Projects is Overwhelming
Often, the end product of an independent project seems like an unattainable goal. The concept of an independent project can provide freedom, but the lack of structure can leave students feeling lost and unsure of their path. They key for instructors is to provide structure (e.g., schedules, formatting guidelines) without stifling opportunities for students to be creative and take charge of their own learning. 
Tips

Break down the project into manageable goals. Create a guide for students that details out the specific steps that lead to the end product, which includes due dates for smaller components of the project. This will help students feel competent as they achieve each small task and to better manage their time.
Provide iterative feedback. If the only evaluation students receive on their work is their final project grade, they don’t have the opportunity to improve and learn along the way. Checking in with students as they reach each small goal allows both students and instructor to keep track of progress and to make adjustments if a group has gotten off-course.
Take time in class to praise students for their progress. Students may have trouble perceiving their accomplishments, so bringing them up will help to increase student confidence moving forward with the project.
Help groups work through challenges in a structured manner. Ask groups to bring up challenges they have encountered lately, and run a brainstorming session with the entire class to overcome these challenges. Often, other groups will have encountered similar challenges, so working through them together helps students feel more competent and build a sense of community among classmates.

Issue #3: Group Members do not Contribute Equally
A common issue in group projects is that some students don’t have the time or interest to fully participate. This puts an undue burden on the other group members, who must take on a larger role in the project than intended. Instructors can minimize the incentive to “slack off” and create strategies for teams to manage uncooperative group members.
Tips

Have students create a team contract. Provide students with a general template for a group contract with space to detail procedures for written communication among teammates, goals for the project, and consequences for group members who don’t pull their weight. All students should contribute to the creation of the contract and sign it. If an issue arises at any point during the project, the group has a clear path forward to correct the issue.
Build in opportunities for every member to contribute. The threat of being held individually accountable is often enough motivation for students to pull their weight. Take time in class to consult with each group individually or run brainstorming sessions with the entire class, asking individual students to share their experience or discuss project results.

Issue #4: Group Members Have Disparate Goals
Group projects can be frustrating if students clash with teammates due to differing interests or goals. While it’s impossible to remove all disagreement among group members, creating a positive collaborative atmosphere can help students discuss and pursue their goals in a supportive manner. 
Tips

Form groups based on mutual interests. Ask students to sit in different sections of the classroom based on potential project topics, then organize the students into groups based on their “interest zone.” An added bonus to this approach is that student groups will automatically have something in common, which can help them form social bonds and increase the enjoyment of working together.
Make time at the start of the project for students to discuss goals. Talking about how the project might relate to their goals for the course, their undergraduate education, and/or their career helps students understand the motivations of their teammates. When group members understand each other’s motivations, they can adjust their expectations and support the achievement of a variety of goals.

While your students may not enjoy the long hours, issues with teammates, and frustrations that accompany the independent group project, they may come to appreciate the lessons learned from their experiences. An example of working through a road block on their project could become a scenario they describe in a job interview. Dealing with an uncooperative group member could inform their approach to team management in their career. Engaging in inquiry could become the foundation for a student’s decision to pursue graduate school. Keep these outcomes in mind, and make every effort to put a positive spin on student progress.

Further Reading
Guide: “What are Best Practices for Designing Group Projects?” from Carnegie Mellon University. https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/instructionalstrategies/groupprojects/design.html
Guide: “Group Work: Using Cooperative Learning Groups Effectively” from Vanderbilt University. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/setting-up-and-facilitating-group-work-using-cooperative-learning-groups-effectively/
Guide: “Successful Group Projects” from University of Leicester. https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/study/group-projects
Article: Creating Positive Group Project Experiences by Chapman and van Auken. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0273475301232005

 Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells (RBCs).   The normal hemoglobin range for men is 13.5 to 17.5 gm/dL and 12 to 15.5 gm/dL for women. It is of utmost importance to maintain hemoglobin concentration.  
What you need to know:

What functions does hemoglobin perform in our bodies?
What causes low hemoglobin? 
Symptoms of low hemoglobin 
What are the foods that can increase hemoglobin level? 
Tips to increase your hemoglobin levels

What functions does hemoglobin perform in our bodies? 
Hemoglobin is vital for carrying oxygen from the lungs to tissues and organs. It also transports carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
What causes low hemoglobin?

Some common causes of low hemoglobin are:

Substantial blood loss
Deficiency in iron, vitamin B, and folate
Kidney disease
Hypothyroidism
Thalassemia
Lung diseases
Excessive smoking

Any type of blood loss can cause anemia, including blood loss from surgery, heavy menstrual periods, and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. 
Symptoms of low hemoglobin
You can detect extremely low hemoglobin levels in your system in a few ways. They include

A fast or irregular heartbeat
Fatigue
Frequent or unexplained bruising
Shortness of breath
Liver and kidney disease
Pale skin and gums
Muscle weakness
Reoccurring headaches
Dizziness
Poor appetite
Anemia in severe cases

Elevated hemoglobin levels are associated with dehydration, heart failure, and chronic lung disease. In some conditions, the bone marrow may not produce enough RBCs, leading to cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, or tumors that spread from other parts of the body into the bone marrow.
What are the foods that can improve your hemoglobin levels?

It is essential to boost your food intake to raise your hemoglobin levels. Here are some foods to increase hemoglobin levels:

Iron-rich foods: Consume iron-rich foods like fish, meat, eggs, soy products, broccoli, green leafy vegetables that include spinach, fenugreek leaves, cauliflower, green peas, cabbage, green beans, nuts and seeds, and peanut butter, to increase your hemoglobin levels.
Vitamin A: It is pertinent to consume vitamin A foods to increase hemoglobin as they absorb more iron. Vitamin A and beta-carotene can help you there. Vitamin A is found in animal food sources, such as fish and liver. Beta-carotene is found in red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables.
Folate: Folate is a type of Vitamin B that plays an essential part in hemoglobin production. A shortage of folate can prevent the red blood cells from maturing, leading to anemia. Some good sources of folate include beef, rice, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, lettuce, and peanuts.
Foods rich in vitamin C: A combination of iron and vitamin C can prove to be beneficial. The latter is used for better absorption of iron. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, lemon, strawberries, papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes.
Fruits: It is also perfect to have fruits like beetroot, apple, watermelon, papaya, oranges, litchis, kiwis, strawberries, grapefruit, banana, and peach, which can boost hemoglobin levels. Plus, dry fruits, like dates, can increase the number of erythrocytes, thereby increasing hemoglobin levels. They contain iron, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, and folic acid, which helps in the formation of red blood cells. Raisins are also a rich source of iron and copper necessary to form red blood cells.

Avoid iron blockers: Foods that block your body’s ability to absorb iron, such as coffee, tea, alcohol, and aerated drinks, should be avoided.
Tips to increase your hemoglobin levels
Here are some tips to keep in mind to increase your hemoglobin levels:
Switch to brown rice: As a superfood, brown rice can help prevent various diseases related to cholesterol and the gastrointestinal system. It is rich in iron, containing 0.52 milligrams of iron for every 100 grams.
Enjoy dark chocolate: With over 80% of cocoa, dark chocolate naturally improves hemoglobin levels. Plus, it is loaded with minerals, nutrients and antioxidants.
Drink nettle tea: The spice nettle has also proven to be a good source of iron and vitamin B and C. They can also play a part in increasing hemoglobin levels.
 Exercise: Take up moderate to high-intensity exercise to help your body produce more hemoglobin to meet the oxygen demands of your body. 
Stay tuned to the Activ Living Community. Keep up to date with the latest health tips and trends through expert videos, podcasts, articles, and much more in nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, and lifestyle conditions like Asthma, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes.
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