Group Work

Last week it was my turn to lead class.  Thoa and I led a group activity and class discussion about group work.  Chapter six was about looking at group work as a system.  Many factors like communication, group mood, group behavior, and roles were brought up.

At the beginning of class Allie and Silas had us peer mentors do a partner activity.  One partner had to be blindfolded, and the other had to help him or her to successfully navigate a minefield.  The minefield consisted of playing cards, Frisbees, ropes, and desks.  This activity fit nicely into the lesson that Thoa and I presented.  It emphasized the importance of clear communication and having trust in the people you work with.  I also brought up a point about roles.  I thought that roles were significant to this activity because, some people may be better at giving direction, and others may be better with listening and navigating.  In any group, each member will bring different strengths and talents—therefore the roles that people play in a group may need to change depending on the goal or project. 

The class also did another activity prior to the class discussion about group work.  Thoa and I had the class complete The Magic Carpet activity, while we observed.  This activity involved everyone keeping their feet on a blanket, while tuning the blanket over.  The Magic Carpet proved to be a challenge, and took collective collaboration.  While the success of this activity depended on many of the same factors as the minefield activity, I did take notice to the effect distractions or interferences can have on group activities. 

I was very pleased with the interactive activities that we did in class last weak.  Rather than talking the entire hour, we were able to do hands on things to learn about groups as a system.  

Fishing for Advice

In class last week we talked about communication skills.  The major component that we focused on was knowing when to give advice and knowing when to go beyond advice giving, and help someone come to a conclusion on their own.  I think that this skill is definitely an asset to have, because like the book says, "advice giving is easy."  It requires less time commitment, demands less personal energy, and fewer interpersonal skills.  While in certain situations advice giving may be appropriate, interpersonal communication is much more helpful.

This lesson reminded me of the quote, "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.  Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. Giving a man a fish is a lot like advice giving.  Giving advice means that you have the knowledge and resources to do so.  The people receiving the advice and the fish really didn't do much work to gain them, as they were handed over.  The fish may be eaten and the advice may be taken, but eventually the man will go hungry and the same person will seek advice again.  However, teaching a man to fish is a lot like interpersonal communication.  By guiding someone through a challenge or personal issue, you will be teaching them a life skill.  With enough help a person can learn to look deep into themselves and see what the issue is that needs solving, and be able to find or reach the resources they need to move forward.  


Personally, I believe there is nothing wrong with throwing a few fish to the crowd now and then, but I would much rather pass on my fishing skills and teach people to fend for themselves. 

Cultural Diversity

I did not really have my first taste of diversity until this paste summer-- I spent my summer studying in England.  I lived in a dorm with individuals from all over the world:  China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, Canada, Puerto Rico, amongst many other countries.  Prior to leaving the United States, I was warned about culture shock and being uncomfortable immersing myself into a completely different culture.  While I found England to be the adventure of a life time, I have to admit, it was difficult to live in in a place so different and amongst so many other people with completely different backgrounds. 

Last Wednesday's class got me to thinking about the diversity I experienced this past summer.  It was a summer I would die for to live again.  I think what made it so great was the many memories and friendships I made with people from all around the world.  Had I not kept an open mind and taken the time to get to know and learn about these people's cultures and life back home, my experience would not have been so rich.  I believe there was something to learn from every person there-- the further away their home, the more there was to learn.  Of coarse, I did not like or agree with every thing I discovered about the places or customs of my new friends, but I kept an open mind.  I realized that those things were a part of their lives, and perhaps they did not agree with all of my or the American ways either. 

As a peer mentor, it is important to realize just how cultural diversity is going to affect us.  While we may not all be coming together from China, Germany, or Puerto Rico, we are all still coming from a different place.  Even being tied together by Iowan roots, we still experienced a different upbringing, a different home life, a different community.  We will all have different talents and different struggles or areas of needed improvement.  It is vital that we all keep open minds, not be judgmental, and improve our diversity awareness-- we never know just what kind of obstacle we will be faced with next year.