Task 3 Reflection

Final blog post for this class!



Task 3 was crazy guys! :)

1.   Share the web address url of your groups ScreenR presentation.

http://screenr.com/iqa7


2.   Reflect on your contributions and how you contributed to making your group a success?

Mmmmm, I would say that I did my fair share. I might have even done less than that. I would like to say that I was an encouragement to the group but that's only something my group members can judge. I think Melanie was the one who suggested our overall PBL scenario so she should get that credit. Also Jason did like seriously all the heavy lifting so he should get that credit as well. I think I could have contributed more to this PBL scenario but overall I'm proud of our team and what we've accomplished. :) Good Job guys! 

Week 15 Teamwork

Howzzziiittt mah buddahs!



Alright, so this week we were asked to read an article about teamwork within online courses. Apparently someone noticed how we college online students work and made some observations. This smart man decided that there are commonly 4 types of students that emerge; there is the Martyr, the Excuse-Meister, the "Breathless in...", and the Silent Partner. Each group was assigned a type of student and was required to come up with 3 strategies that can help prevent or limit this type of student from occurring within teams. We were given the Silent Partner.

Here is an excerpt from the article about the Silent Partner:
The most problematic is the "Silent Partner." The Silent Partner is not really a partner in any meaningful sense, other than he expects to receive the same credit as the other team members, though he has been absent from much of the team process. He prefers to let others carry the load and then appears at the end with his tale of woe. I see "going silent" as a group member’s top transgression. It is a significant source of stress and frustration in groups and the top source of intra-team conflict in student projects.

The next three suggestions were created by our fearless leader, Jason Nagata :) He's carried our whole group together throughout this entire semester so he would totally know how to deal with a Silent Partner.

#1: Teams need to set ground rules. Rules that include a weekly meeting time whether it be face to face or online. These weekly meetings will be mandatory and will be used to discuss forums and project information. Teams should also have a project calendar. Having one will help reduce time spent on reminding the team about what is due. This project calendar will also keep the group on task and up to date.

#2. Teams need to have good communication skills. Team members need to have an open line of communication and be responsible for each other. If a member is not participating in the weekly meet up and is not responding to emails, texts messages should be sent out to make sure each member is in the loop. In a sense, team members should not allow anyone to be 'going silent.'

#3. Be understanding and encouraging. We agree that emergencies arise and some members won't be able to contribute from time to time but amount of excuses should not pile up. Teams should set their own rules for the amount of excuses that are allowed. After that amount is reached then the team can contact the instructor. We rather have Excuse- Meister's than Silent Partners because at least we wont be chasing after a ghost. :)

Yup, so that's how we would deal with a Silent Partner. Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!

Task 3-6 Reflection

Greetings friends and family! Here's this week's reflection :)

1. Why is it important to use teams in PBL?

It's important to use teams in PBL because it's a crazy amount of work! Plus, as teachers we have to be able to work together to impact lives. We've talked before about how students don't see the synergy between the classes they take. We want to rid students of that problem and show that each class they take is essential and each class they take somehow relates to each other. Working as a team in creating a PBL will keep teachers in the loop of what is expected from each student. Then our material can help students toward their overall PBL task and show students that we care about their overall goals. 

2.What are some of the problems you see in student teams?

In high school the problems I saw were basic. There were problems with power- maybe two head strong students couldn't agree. There were problems with bystanders- there's always that one student who has no input or opinions. There were problems with students not doing quality work. In college I see almost the same thing. But I mostly see problems with students not participating or contributing to the work load. Especially in my online classes, but it's understandable because I've been that student from time to time. 

3. What strategies can you use to manage conflict in student teams?

I think the biggest strategy is planning. Teams need to make a plan and stick to it. They need to make their own rules upon how to deal with each other and abide by their rules. Having a set guideline on what is expected and consequences should really help any group out.

4. Did the group have any questions or problems this week?

Nope, none this week! I think we're all excited for the summer :) Yayyyyyyyy!

Task 3-5 Reflection

G'day Ladies and Gentle-friends! Got this week's reflection for ya!



1.    What ideas have you contributed to your team this week?I don't think I've contributed to any new ideas. I'm sure we were all just focusing on finishing up our PBL.


2.    What role did you play on your team this week?This week was more of a collaboration of things. I just looked over what we had and I think Jason put everything together. 



3.    How did you encourage and support your team members this week?This week was kind of a weird one because it's mixed with another week so not much action going on and not much opportunity to encourage I guess. But I did see Jason at school and we talked about class. Basically we encouraged each other and Aunty Mel to finish strong and graduate! ;) I'm so glad they've decided to walk at the commencement ceremony. Whoot whoot!


4.    Did the group have any questions or problems this week?


Mmm none that I know of. We're all just plowing through til the end of the semester!

Task 3-4 Reflection

ALOHA ALL! Snaps this semester has flown by so quickly! I'm drowning in a pile of homework and it's an extremely intense workout but the best part is knowing that the shore is within eyesight. 




Here's this week's reflection:


1.    What ideas have you contributed to your team this week?
This week's forum was happily simple. All of our answers were almost identical but I think I was the only one who said that our google doc page has helped us communicate a lot. Unless, another person sparked that thought and I copied them. Aha I''m not sure. 

2.    What role did you play on your team this week?
To be honest I don't know what role I was supposed to play this week. And because I didn't know what role to play I just took a blank question and answered it. My group hasn't gotten back to me yet so I really hope I didn't steal someone's question.

3.    How did you encourage and support your team members this week?
Hhhhmmm not sure. Our power point thing isn't done yet so hopefully they'll see that I completed a question and they'll be encouraged to do their part :)

4.    Did the group have any questions or problems this week?
Nope not that I know of! OH except I think I was a bit confused for a while. Our group leader started all our forums early so I was so confused on what module we were on. But I eventually figured it out, it's good that we have Jason keeping us afloat! Thanks bruthaman! 

Task 3-3 Reflection

Kia Orana!



1.    What ideas have you contributed to your team this week?

NONE :( Gahhh sorry guys.


2.    What role did you play on your team this week?

I totally didn't do anything. My bad guys I was seriously on Spring Break Mode and I assumed that there was no work due for any class!


3.    How did you encourage and support your team members this week?

All I did was tell them good job, I mean that's all I could do because when I logged in everything was already done. I'm really glad we have such a good group though. Jason has done A LOT to keep us afloat! He deserves like 21 million extra credit points :) No joke.


4.    Did the group have any questions or problems this week?
I wouldn't know :( 

Task 3-2 Reflection

Wassup Wassup! :) Reflection time!




1.    What roles did the members of your team have this week?

Ummm, this week we each had to write an SLO for our PBL. Jason was project manager, Melanie was our proof reader and Kaye-lani was our adviser.

2.    Given your role in the group this week, how did you contribute to group?

This week I wrote one of our SLO's, it was actually pretty fun to write. Also, I encouraged the group- which is also a fun thing to do :)


3.    What worked well this week?

I think because we each had something specific to do and something that was equal in responsibility, it got us to do work :)

4.    What will you do differently next time?
Aha, once again I was one of the last to turn in my input. Gotta work on them non-procrastination skills! >.<