I have learnt the importance of adaptability in this project. This assisted the team by making the decision to refrain from continuously sticking to the initial idea because it was not working out as intended. After realising that we were unable to proceed further into the topic, the team immediately brainstormed another idea. This allowed us to come out with an improved idea which still had elements of the initial idea. If the team had not made this important move, I believe that the project will not be as successful, let alone its proper completion. Therefore, being adaptable essential in any projects, especially those involving groups. Furthermore, changing ideas is not as bad as it sounds because there might be a possibility to branch better ideas from the previous ones.
This course made me realised that I will take the initiative when there isn't any progress in the work. Waiting for someone else to delegate task is like waiting for pigs to fly. If no one takes up the role, I would do it. There does not seem to have any benefits of a "Everybody is waiting for everybody, hence no one is actually doing anything" attitude.
Wednesday 13 April 2016
Sunday 10 April 2016
Critical Reflection on Project Learning
While working on this project, I have learned new information about different people and their cultures and and I enjoyed working on this project with my team members.
During the forming stage of group development, all of us showed our schedule to one another so that we can plan a day whereby everyone is available to work on the project. However, we were waiting for someone to take the initiative and assign tasks. Thus, not much work was done.
On the day of video recording, everyone was very excited and brought the props. While recording, I realised that one member did not have any lines to say because that dialogue was missing. Instead of waiting for someone to write in the missing dialogue, I immediately took the initiative and wrote a dialogue so that he would not feel that he is not needed in the production.
Through past observations, I have realised that all of us want to be involved in the project and are willing to extend help. Also, I have realised that I will sometimes take the initiative to do work/delegate tasks to people when the amount of work done for that day is little. Not constantly relying on textbooks allows students to gain additional knowledge as they don't feel restricted. Also, some knowledge can only be obtained through group projects when the students experience the challenges first-hand.
This experience has taught me not to always wait for people to delegate tasks to me as they might be too busy with their work. To be a good team player, I have to take the initiative to offer help to my team members.
During the forming stage of group development, all of us showed our schedule to one another so that we can plan a day whereby everyone is available to work on the project. However, we were waiting for someone to take the initiative and assign tasks. Thus, not much work was done.
On the day of video recording, everyone was very excited and brought the props. While recording, I realised that one member did not have any lines to say because that dialogue was missing. Instead of waiting for someone to write in the missing dialogue, I immediately took the initiative and wrote a dialogue so that he would not feel that he is not needed in the production.
Through past observations, I have realised that all of us want to be involved in the project and are willing to extend help. Also, I have realised that I will sometimes take the initiative to do work/delegate tasks to people when the amount of work done for that day is little. Not constantly relying on textbooks allows students to gain additional knowledge as they don't feel restricted. Also, some knowledge can only be obtained through group projects when the students experience the challenges first-hand.
This experience has taught me not to always wait for people to delegate tasks to me as they might be too busy with their work. To be a good team player, I have to take the initiative to offer help to my team members.
Sunday 6 March 2016
Resolving Interpersonal Conflict
I had been directly involved with a conflict over the semester. It involves a team based project of 5 team members. All team members come from the same course as I. This project specifically focuses on the development of an original game. Before I continue, I will split the team members into 2 groups: Team Slacker and Team Worker. Team Slacker consists of 3 members, and Team Worker consists of another member and I.
During this whole period, the whole team isn't communicating with each other due to avoiding confrontation of the issues at hand. Eventually, Team Slacker accused Team Worker for not informing them the tasks they needed to do. However, I personally believe that they could refer to schedule which was created and agreed upon by all members of the team which clearly contains a list of tasks stated by each member. Since we are all in the university, whereby lecturers won't hold our hands anymore, I expected Team Slacker to take initiative and update themselves and contribute to the schedule about outstanding tasks. However, they preferred to be told verbally without the use of the schedule.
Not only that, Team Slacker felt that they were being treated as dogs because Team Worker finalised the game design at the beginning of the semester and had additional ideas of the design. Based on that reasoning, Team Slacker is demotivated to do work. Little did they not know that Team Worker has spent the last week of their holiday writing the game idea in a comprehensive manner. Also, Team Worker feels that it is logical to quickly finalise the game idea before the semester begins as it will speed up the production since they have experienced difficulty in developing a game without concrete document stating the features of the game. However, this backfired as Team Slacker attempted to use it as another avenue to support themselves in the argument.
So, how am I to accept these reasons after attempting to assist them in the completion of this game project?
In order to get both groups to collaborate, each team member has to recognise and subsequently adapt to different working styles within the team.
Edited: 25 March 2016
During this whole period, the whole team isn't communicating with each other due to avoiding confrontation of the issues at hand. Eventually, Team Slacker accused Team Worker for not informing them the tasks they needed to do. However, I personally believe that they could refer to schedule which was created and agreed upon by all members of the team which clearly contains a list of tasks stated by each member. Since we are all in the university, whereby lecturers won't hold our hands anymore, I expected Team Slacker to take initiative and update themselves and contribute to the schedule about outstanding tasks. However, they preferred to be told verbally without the use of the schedule.
Not only that, Team Slacker felt that they were being treated as dogs because Team Worker finalised the game design at the beginning of the semester and had additional ideas of the design. Based on that reasoning, Team Slacker is demotivated to do work. Little did they not know that Team Worker has spent the last week of their holiday writing the game idea in a comprehensive manner. Also, Team Worker feels that it is logical to quickly finalise the game idea before the semester begins as it will speed up the production since they have experienced difficulty in developing a game without concrete document stating the features of the game. However, this backfired as Team Slacker attempted to use it as another avenue to support themselves in the argument.
So, how am I to accept these reasons after attempting to assist them in the completion of this game project?
In order to get both groups to collaborate, each team member has to recognise and subsequently adapt to different working styles within the team.
Edited: 25 March 2016
Saturday 6 February 2016
Observation of verbal/non-verbal interaction
Recently, I have attended a
wedding dinner of a relative. There were four others, who are strangers to my
family, sat at the same table as us. I will be only discussing about one of
them, addressing her as Mrs. Chatterbox, since she talked the most. The bride will
be turning 21 this year.
To break the awkwardness, one of
them started to talk by asking my parent about our relations to the bride.
My mum replied, “We are her relatives.” Then, she introduced us to them. Before
long, Mrs. Chatterbox started to share her worry for her kids as they want to earn
money first and do not want to get married at their age (early 30s). She later asked
my sister, who is turning 24 this year, whether she would earn money first or
start a family first. I realised that Mrs. Chatterbox's tone changed from a gossiping tone with hand gestures to a slightly formal tone as she leaned forward to display her curiosity. When my sis said that she will rather earn money and not
rely on my parents, Mrs. Chatterbox states that my generation would rather earn
first before starting a family, and praised her for doing so. While we were
eating, I caught a glimpse of her whispering to her colleagues.
Based on the conversation between
Mrs. Chatterbox and my mum, I deduced that she is a wealthy married woman who likes
to gossip as she talked more than one topic. This blog post length will be
doubled if I discussed about the part whereby she talked about her maid and that
her mum, aged 80, will nag at her at times. Also, she sounds as if she has more
experience just because she is slightly older than my mum.
Edited: 25 March 2016
Edited: 25 March 2016
Friday 8 January 2016
Strengths and Challenges in Communicating
As I am an introvert, my strength in communication is listening to others first before speaking. Therefore, I am usually the last few to speak in a group discussion. I will usually analyse the entire situation before speaking. However, this can be a drawback as other people's opinion will influence my thought. Not only that, I tend to think about how people view the situation and this caused me to forget what I wanted to say.
To me, listening and observing people is a way for me to learn what are the do's and don'ts in communication. I will be able to know whether that person is able to handle criticism, or whether I must rephrase my words such that no one gets hurt.
One of the major challenges I faced while communicating is not being able to get my point across. Sometimes, I have a tendency to be excited/nervous while I am speaking to people. I can feel my heartbeat beating faster the moment I get excited or nervous, and my mind will look like a mesh of tangled wires. This leads to a loss of words or not speaking clearly. Thus, the other party has to ask to repeat what I am saying a few times which always made me think whether I am speaking proper English or I am speaking too softly/fast.
Till date, I cannot find a solution to that challenge as a conversation between people occurs simultaneously. I don't have the luxury of time to rehearse what I want to say in my mind before speaking. Thus, I speak in point forms and try to connect them together which creates an incomprehensible sentences. Only those who knows be better are able to get the gist of what I am talking about.
To me, listening and observing people is a way for me to learn what are the do's and don'ts in communication. I will be able to know whether that person is able to handle criticism, or whether I must rephrase my words such that no one gets hurt.
One of the major challenges I faced while communicating is not being able to get my point across. Sometimes, I have a tendency to be excited/nervous while I am speaking to people. I can feel my heartbeat beating faster the moment I get excited or nervous, and my mind will look like a mesh of tangled wires. This leads to a loss of words or not speaking clearly. Thus, the other party has to ask to repeat what I am saying a few times which always made me think whether I am speaking proper English or I am speaking too softly/fast.
Till date, I cannot find a solution to that challenge as a conversation between people occurs simultaneously. I don't have the luxury of time to rehearse what I want to say in my mind before speaking. Thus, I speak in point forms and try to connect them together which creates an incomprehensible sentences. Only those who knows be better are able to get the gist of what I am talking about.
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