9-15-10
In our first group meeting we discussed what our project should be. All three of us had really great ideas that we all wanted to see implemented. We debated between doing a coin drive to support March of Dimes, Hosting a Fashion show to raise money for a Family member with cancer, and a food drive to make brown bag lunches for the homeless people of Hattiesburg. In the end, we decided to go with the food drive. We decided based on two major factors, ease of implementation, and greatest impact for the amount of time and resources available.
We were scheduled to have our second team meeting after class on Monday, September 13, but Arlise was sick, so we reschedule for Wednesday September 15. My hope is to discuss the plan of action and divide up responsibilities.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Small Group - Chapter 4
9-15-10
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of open small group systems as opposed to closed small group systems?
Open small group systems allow outside influences to impact the group. This can be an advantage because it allows outside ideas to spark creativity in the group. It can also be a disadvantage when negative outside influences begin to take effect on the group, causing problems within the group.
In the same way, closed small group systems have both their advantages and disadvantages. They prevent negative factors from influencing the group, and may help keep the group more focused on their goals. The disadvantage would be when creativity and ideas are solely from the members of the group, instead of drawing inspiration and other influences from the outside.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of open small group systems as opposed to closed small group systems?
Open small group systems allow outside influences to impact the group. This can be an advantage because it allows outside ideas to spark creativity in the group. It can also be a disadvantage when negative outside influences begin to take effect on the group, causing problems within the group.
In the same way, closed small group systems have both their advantages and disadvantages. They prevent negative factors from influencing the group, and may help keep the group more focused on their goals. The disadvantage would be when creativity and ideas are solely from the members of the group, instead of drawing inspiration and other influences from the outside.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Small Group - Chapter 3
9-14-10
3. How does someone’s physical appearance (i.e. clothing, hairstyle, body shape and size, posture, etc.) affect your perception of and feelings about that person?
I would like to say that a person’s physical appearance does not affect my perception of a person, but that would definitely be a lie! I do find, however, that my perception of people based on their appearance may still be “not typical”.
For example, where most people would be turned away by a person who might be labeled “alternative”, I tend to have more respect for them! I recognize their free spirits, and their willingness to go against the norms of society. Another example is how I view people who struggle with their weight. Unfortunately, too many people write them off as “fat” or “ugly”, and refuse to respect them. I find, however, that I am willing to respect them if they respect themselves. If a man or women has enough respect for themselves to dress properly, instead of giving up and dressing sloppily, then it is very easy for me to respect them just as easily as a person that has never struggled with their weight. In fact, I am probably more willing to view them with more respect than others, because they choose to take care of themselves, and present themselves well instead of choosing the easy way out.
As for the general public, my perception of people is often based off of their physical appearance. A person dressed in a full suit I would perceive to be very serious about their job. A person dressed comfortably, though still very nice, I would perceive to be confident and comfortably in their environment. If a person is dressed sloppy at a workplace or in public, I am going to perceive them as a person who does not care much about themselves, let alone their job, or their surroundings.
In general, I tend to read a lot into people’s physical appearance. My general philosophy is that if you have enough respect for yourself to present yourself in a certain way to the public, then I will respect you as a person in return. If you cannot respect yourself, however, then it will be much harder for me to respect you.
5. When a member’s verbal and nonverbal signals are inconsistent, what do you usually do, and why?
I definitely am more inclined to pay more attention to nonverbal signals over verbal signals, especially if they are inconsistent! A person’s nonverbal signs are much more instinctual, whereas verbal signals can be purposefully changed and falsified. For example, if a customer comes into the coffee shop and orders a drink, and tells me that it is very good, but gags every time they take a sip, I am definitely going to believe their nonverbal signals over their verbal. They may be trying to not hurt my feelings, but I can obviously see for myself that the drink does not taste good at all!
3. How does someone’s physical appearance (i.e. clothing, hairstyle, body shape and size, posture, etc.) affect your perception of and feelings about that person?
I would like to say that a person’s physical appearance does not affect my perception of a person, but that would definitely be a lie! I do find, however, that my perception of people based on their appearance may still be “not typical”.
For example, where most people would be turned away by a person who might be labeled “alternative”, I tend to have more respect for them! I recognize their free spirits, and their willingness to go against the norms of society. Another example is how I view people who struggle with their weight. Unfortunately, too many people write them off as “fat” or “ugly”, and refuse to respect them. I find, however, that I am willing to respect them if they respect themselves. If a man or women has enough respect for themselves to dress properly, instead of giving up and dressing sloppily, then it is very easy for me to respect them just as easily as a person that has never struggled with their weight. In fact, I am probably more willing to view them with more respect than others, because they choose to take care of themselves, and present themselves well instead of choosing the easy way out.
As for the general public, my perception of people is often based off of their physical appearance. A person dressed in a full suit I would perceive to be very serious about their job. A person dressed comfortably, though still very nice, I would perceive to be confident and comfortably in their environment. If a person is dressed sloppy at a workplace or in public, I am going to perceive them as a person who does not care much about themselves, let alone their job, or their surroundings.
In general, I tend to read a lot into people’s physical appearance. My general philosophy is that if you have enough respect for yourself to present yourself in a certain way to the public, then I will respect you as a person in return. If you cannot respect yourself, however, then it will be much harder for me to respect you.
5. When a member’s verbal and nonverbal signals are inconsistent, what do you usually do, and why?
I definitely am more inclined to pay more attention to nonverbal signals over verbal signals, especially if they are inconsistent! A person’s nonverbal signs are much more instinctual, whereas verbal signals can be purposefully changed and falsified. For example, if a customer comes into the coffee shop and orders a drink, and tells me that it is very good, but gags every time they take a sip, I am definitely going to believe their nonverbal signals over their verbal. They may be trying to not hurt my feelings, but I can obviously see for myself that the drink does not taste good at all!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Small group - Chapter 2
9-13-10
4. What factors (characteristics of the speaker, contextual factors, characteristics of your own personality, etc.) interfere with your ability to listen?
Depending on the day, there can be many factors which interfere with my own ability to listen. One of the biggest things that interferes with my ability to listen is how the speaker is delivering their message. If a speaker is simply reading from a prompt, script, or book, it is often very hard for me to stay focused on what they are saying. I often ask the question to myself, “why should I spend my time listening to you read, when I could read it for myself?” This is especially the case for teachers whose method of “teaching” is to read from the textbook!
Another factor that greatly influences my ability to listen is the context of the situation I am in. If I am in a room that is quiet, and at moderate temperature, then I am much more likely to listen intently than if I was in an extremely cold or warm room. This is also the case for a room with lots of noise, or outside distractions. If I am at an outside service or concert, you often find that my attention is captured by the traffic, nature, and people around me.
If a speaker is obviously not enthusiastic about what they are trying to communicate, then I will rarely pay any attention to them! My logic is simple in this case; “If you are not enthusiastic about your subject, then why should I be as well?” However, if a speaker is excited about their topic, I am much more likely to listen to them! In fact, I will probably listen to a lecture on College Algebra intently if the professor is excited about what he is teaching!
5. What techniques do you personally use when you are trying to remember what someone tells you.
I use many different memory techniques. One of my most commonly used techniques is to remember exactly what was happening at the time of the conversation. Often, if I can recreate a scene in my mind, whether it be a certain out of place mark on the white board, a plane flying overhead, an interesting plant, or the way the wind is blowing, I can replay the situation in my head to remember what they said!
Another technique I use to remember what someone tells me is to associate it with something. This could be either in the form of a picture in my head, or a hand motion. This is mostly used for remembering facts, definitions, terms, and other types of information for a class. Often times the more abstract the association, the better I can remember! For example, if a professor was teaching about the pitfalls to listening effectively, I might devise a series of hand motions to help me remember the list. Each motion would start where the last one left off to help me remember the whole list in order.
4. What factors (characteristics of the speaker, contextual factors, characteristics of your own personality, etc.) interfere with your ability to listen?
Depending on the day, there can be many factors which interfere with my own ability to listen. One of the biggest things that interferes with my ability to listen is how the speaker is delivering their message. If a speaker is simply reading from a prompt, script, or book, it is often very hard for me to stay focused on what they are saying. I often ask the question to myself, “why should I spend my time listening to you read, when I could read it for myself?” This is especially the case for teachers whose method of “teaching” is to read from the textbook!
Another factor that greatly influences my ability to listen is the context of the situation I am in. If I am in a room that is quiet, and at moderate temperature, then I am much more likely to listen intently than if I was in an extremely cold or warm room. This is also the case for a room with lots of noise, or outside distractions. If I am at an outside service or concert, you often find that my attention is captured by the traffic, nature, and people around me.
If a speaker is obviously not enthusiastic about what they are trying to communicate, then I will rarely pay any attention to them! My logic is simple in this case; “If you are not enthusiastic about your subject, then why should I be as well?” However, if a speaker is excited about their topic, I am much more likely to listen to them! In fact, I will probably listen to a lecture on College Algebra intently if the professor is excited about what he is teaching!
5. What techniques do you personally use when you are trying to remember what someone tells you.
I use many different memory techniques. One of my most commonly used techniques is to remember exactly what was happening at the time of the conversation. Often, if I can recreate a scene in my mind, whether it be a certain out of place mark on the white board, a plane flying overhead, an interesting plant, or the way the wind is blowing, I can replay the situation in my head to remember what they said!
Another technique I use to remember what someone tells me is to associate it with something. This could be either in the form of a picture in my head, or a hand motion. This is mostly used for remembering facts, definitions, terms, and other types of information for a class. Often times the more abstract the association, the better I can remember! For example, if a professor was teaching about the pitfalls to listening effectively, I might devise a series of hand motions to help me remember the list. Each motion would start where the last one left off to help me remember the whole list in order.
Small Group - Chapter 1
9-13-10
2. Describe the worst group you’ve ever been in, and explain why it was such a bad group.
The worst group I have ever been in was a small group I was assigned to for a class presentation. The people I was assigned to work with had no concept of working together as a group. They also refused to take responsibility for their part of the presentation. Despite my encouraging, if not begging, for us to meet together to work on our presentation, we did not meet until the week of our presentation. Even then, they still had done no research whatsoever.
On the day of our presentation, I went into the library to work on something else, and my team members begged me to come help them put their powerpoint together. They had not even learned how to use Powerpoint until the day of the presentation! I showed them how to make a basic presentation and went back to my work, but I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw them copying straight from Wikipedia into their presentation.
As I had expected, when we gave our presentation, the other girls simply stood there and read from their power point slides. I was horrified, because my grade was completely dependent on our group presentation! In the end I had to beg the teacher not to grade me based on their performances, since I had put 110% effort into my part of the presentation, AND had helped set up their parts!
It was definitely the worst small group experience I have ever had!
4. Do you think computer-mediated groups should be classified as small groups? Why or why not?
I do think that computer-mediated groups should be classified as small groups. Though they may be an newly emerging type of group to many people, computer-mediated small groups have the potential to become very sturdy groups. Computer-mediated small groups often form their own society of sorts as they frontier new grounds in technology together. And the workings of a face-to-face small group are often still seen in the workings of a computer-mediated small group!
2. Describe the worst group you’ve ever been in, and explain why it was such a bad group.
The worst group I have ever been in was a small group I was assigned to for a class presentation. The people I was assigned to work with had no concept of working together as a group. They also refused to take responsibility for their part of the presentation. Despite my encouraging, if not begging, for us to meet together to work on our presentation, we did not meet until the week of our presentation. Even then, they still had done no research whatsoever.
On the day of our presentation, I went into the library to work on something else, and my team members begged me to come help them put their powerpoint together. They had not even learned how to use Powerpoint until the day of the presentation! I showed them how to make a basic presentation and went back to my work, but I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw them copying straight from Wikipedia into their presentation.
As I had expected, when we gave our presentation, the other girls simply stood there and read from their power point slides. I was horrified, because my grade was completely dependent on our group presentation! In the end I had to beg the teacher not to grade me based on their performances, since I had put 110% effort into my part of the presentation, AND had helped set up their parts!
It was definitely the worst small group experience I have ever had!
4. Do you think computer-mediated groups should be classified as small groups? Why or why not?
I do think that computer-mediated groups should be classified as small groups. Though they may be an newly emerging type of group to many people, computer-mediated small groups have the potential to become very sturdy groups. Computer-mediated small groups often form their own society of sorts as they frontier new grounds in technology together. And the workings of a face-to-face small group are often still seen in the workings of a computer-mediated small group!
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