social behaviour in a digital world
In my mind, there are two distinct ways of looking at what this group of great people has been through in the past two weeks. There’s the side that forces you to look at yourself, examine your own beliefs and theories and (hopefully) begin realizing some new possibilities. Then there’s the piece that RRU looks at or gets out of it.
I think the RRU piece is a very large constructivist learning experience that has one large macro learning cycle to it. We’ll all have plenty of tiny learning cycles along the lines of Kolb’s theory, but this MA will be more akin to Taylor’s broader model when you think of the RRU perspective. Do you think RRU designs this that way, or am I out to lunch and simply sleep deprived?
Our residency ‘boot camp’ (and make no mistake, this has been a bootcamp) is the disruption phase. We’ve received our share of downloads via a behaviourist learning model. Several lectures on learning theory and research methodology. However, I start thinking about how much the group exercises forced us into upheaval and working in ways that were uncomfortable at times. To me, that’s the disruption and now we go back to real life and try to integrate that and accept it to form a new reality.
For myself, I think of how I could change or avoid the missteps in future group projects, particularly when we’re working at a distance. It seems that boundaries could be better created and enforced by the group simply discussing at the outset a way of working that fit for everyone - and then agreeing that everyone will stick to the framework. This doesn’t mean it has to fit anyone’s personality type or learning style better, but it will help ensure that people can strike a balance and work from a common set of principles.
If anyone comments on this, let me know what you think you’d do differently to better frame a group project?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Hi James,
I think part of the approach is a to be able to articulate a clear understanding of my own strengths and weakness as a learner. That may take some time to effectively articulate that but a valuable component to furthering growth.
One thing I would do more, is to look more closely at the grading criteria and begin to storyboard the expectations and the product. I think the visual frame work would help me process my thinking and give me a more narrowed scope.
Perhaps this is where shared knowledge and shared meaning become the living entity of the constructivist epistemology.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hi James from my other Reality,
I don’t know what the answer is but I do know that my answer will fluctuate from day to day. Today, I am back in Specter, the sun is shining, I am with people I love, and I am not going back into the haunted forest. My answer regarding group work today is, that if there cannot be a product in X amount of time, give me a “0″ and I close the book and go to the beach. I know that is not a mature or rationale answer but that is my raw position today (which will soften in time). I do know that I am not prepared to devote unlimitless time to group projects; so…. either I am exceptionally clear and firm about what I will and will not do and maintain that position at all costs, that I waffle and my role in the group becomes copy typist, or that I walk away. It is a lot to grapple with but I presume many are considering strategies for the future as the cranky side of sleep deprivation prevails.
Take care of yourself dearest James. I hope you continue to build tall towers (and in short bursts of time too!)
August 15th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Hi James - I am so happy to read the stream of discussion on your Blog. Detached from the context of immersion, I’m still not completely adjusted to my “real life”; still asking way too many questions. What I do know is that many of my strongest recollections are a) of the laughs I had; those quirky moments where you just had to “be there” and b) on those moments where I felt out of sync. Those extreme moment where I wished I could have drawn upon, or at least temporarily borrowed, Bonnie’s ability to articulate through art, or Justin’s ability to use convergent thinking or Tracey’s use of metaphor to help me make sense of my reality. For me, I was attempting to understand people, course material and how to learn on a multidimensional level while needing to act on this learning contemporaneously - not my preferred learning style. Exactly why I knew intuitively this model would stretch me. I’ve been way too competent, or unchallenged, for way too long - read “complacent”.
I agree with your thoughts on the group work aspect and implications for working as a member of on-line working groups. Perhaps if I had made more effort to risk (risk in terms of losing precious time, detracting from the task etc)I could have engaged in some prelim group discussions around the how of “working together” as opposed to launching into “most expedient” way to get the work done with the least amount of stress, I am sure my experience, and that of those around me, would have been different. Not necessarily less demanding or stressful, or even a path to the well deserved “A”-:)
Thanks for the space James
Renee