Group work projects are common components of graduate course curricula. Instructors often try to mitigate the benefits of group work projects for students while avoiding negative effects. Informal learning and participatory culture practices like video logs can enhance learning environments. Video logs that promote both informal learning and participatory culture practices have captured the interest of researchers as a popular way to disclose observations, reflections and thoughts about people's lives and experiences. This study provides insight on how graduate students may respond to participation in a Collaborative Video Logs (CVL) in lieu of group work projects or asynchronous text-based discussion boards. A CVL is a series of videos created by a small group of students addressing a topic and engages students through asynchronous video conversation while promoting ownership, reflection, and academic and social outcomes. This study summarizes students' past experiences and perceptions of group work projects, technological readiness, and affective responses to participating in a CVL as a course assignment.