Final answer:
Christina should find strategies to effectively participate in her group project. She'll have the opportunity to develop important collaborative skills and potentially improve the quality of her academic work. Communicating with her professor may provide additional support or alternatives. The correct answer is option (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
For Christina, who is a history major and excels in a quiet, solitary learning environment, the optimal choice for achieving success in a course structured around a group project would be to find strategies to learn in a group setting. It's a good idea to approach group work with an open mind, as it can be an effective way to digest new information and might lead to better performance in group assignments, as proven by Harding's (2018) research on flocking compared to self-selected groups. Engaging with peers can enhance understanding and retention of study material through collaborative learning and peer-to-peer support. Furthermore, Christina should consider speaking with her professor about the group project dynamics; often, professors are receptive to a student's concerns and might offer alternative assessment strategies or additional support.
Instead of withdrawing from the course or partaking minimally, Christina should actively participate. This can help her not only contribute her strengths to the group but also develop new skills that are essential for her future career, such as teamwork and communication. She should also use her group to practice articulating her understanding of historical concepts, thereby enhancing her mastery of the subject matter. Through collaborative learning, students like Christina can ultimately produce informed, well-rounded work that stimulates further research and contributes to a broader knowledge base.