So, approaching the end of the module block on the project and it's mostly finished. Our group chose the medium of digital storytelling with the task of discussing, exploring and reflecting on radicalization.
What worked well:
Groupwork: I think we certainly were lucky to get a very personable group of people. There appeared to be a range of skills and competencies related to the topic area and the more technical aspects of what had to be done. The offsite: We've used Google+ as a community to share our ideas, organise meetings and hangouts to have those meetings, all of which has been excellent. I'm thoroughly invested in using these in the future. It's also very good how these integrate so well with things like Googledrive. Google really does appear to be setting up a huge online working ecosystem in that regard and it's all free. You used to have to pay loads of cash for what is now offered gratis by them. The topic: The issue of radicalization is certainly a very interesting one and reading around the subject and considering it has been helpfully interesting. I am very much into exploring this and how the media influences it so it was somewhat of a busman's holiday for me.
What didn't work well: Groupwork: As this isn't a professional setting, there were a number of issues. As I said, my group were all very personable and helpful and quick to offer assistance and advice, but in a job, you'd have the clear definitions of who does what and the impetus to do so as you receive a salary based on those actions. In this kind of context where everyone is doing it around their professional, familial, and social obligations we couldn't always do everything in a concurrent and timely manner. Also, while a couple of members certainly took the lead, in this context we can't expect someone to be particularly forceful in telling others what to do and by when. This was also affected by our varied competencies. The site: Ultimately, due to the above, we have rather an uneven site perhaps and the learning object could have been approached in a clearer and more cohesive way. I think, individually, some good stuff has been done. The topic: This was a difficult field to approach as there were so many considerations related to definitions, being conscious of the sensitivity with which we'd have to approach these matters. In retrospect, possibly something simpler would have been more effective as we are, I think, more concerned with the process of the projects creation as opposed to the finished product itself. Exploring the activity of creating something as a team, communicating, evaluating it and so on could have been with a far more straightforward area of study. However, as I said, I have enjoyed it greatly.
From a personal perspective, I think I could have been more attentive, interactive, and proactive in managing the site and resources such as Google Drive and the Communities page on Google+. However, we have been lucky enough to have someone that is excellent at doing all of the above and essentially my input wasn't really needed. On reflection, I shouldn't have been media manager. Actually, one of the subject matter experts in this area would have been more apt for me, I feel. Nevertheless, I have found it an invaluable experience with the dynamic of working with subject matter that, while an area of interest, is not one that I'm specialized in, and working with a geographically dispersed group of people and using digital means alone to communicate and plan.
Group Project Reflection
So, approaching the end of the module block on the project and it's mostly finished. Our group chose the medium of digital storytelling with the task of discussing, exploring and reflecting on radicalization.
What worked well:
Groupwork: I think we certainly were lucky to get a very personable group of people. There appeared to be a range of skills and competencies related to the topic area and the more technical aspects of what had to be done.
The offsite: We've used Google+ as a community to share our ideas, organise meetings and hangouts to have those meetings, all of which has been excellent. I'm thoroughly invested in using these in the future. It's also very good how these integrate so well with things like Googledrive. Google really does appear to be setting up a huge online working ecosystem in that regard and it's all free. You used to have to pay loads of cash for what is now offered gratis by them.
The topic: The issue of radicalization is certainly a very interesting one and reading around the subject and considering it has been helpfully interesting. I am very much into exploring this and how the media influences it so it was somewhat of a busman's holiday for me.
What didn't work well:
Groupwork: As this isn't a professional setting, there were a number of issues. As I said, my group were all very personable and helpful and quick to offer assistance and advice, but in a job, you'd have the clear definitions of who does what and the impetus to do so as you receive a salary based on those actions. In this kind of context where everyone is doing it around their professional, familial, and social obligations we couldn't always do everything in a concurrent and timely manner. Also, while a couple of members certainly took the lead, in this context we can't expect someone to be particularly forceful in telling others what to do and by when. This was also affected by our varied competencies.
The site: Ultimately, due to the above, we have rather an uneven site perhaps and the learning object could have been approached in a clearer and more cohesive way. I think, individually, some good stuff has been done.
The topic: This was a difficult field to approach as there were so many considerations related to definitions, being conscious of the sensitivity with which we'd have to approach these matters. In retrospect, possibly something simpler would have been more effective as we are, I think, more concerned with the process of the projects creation as opposed to the finished product itself. Exploring the activity of creating something as a team, communicating, evaluating it and so on could have been with a far more straightforward area of study. However, as I said, I have enjoyed it greatly.
From a personal perspective, I think I could have been more attentive, interactive, and proactive in managing the site and resources such as Google Drive and the Communities page on Google+. However, we have been lucky enough to have someone that is excellent at doing all of the above and essentially my input wasn't really needed. On reflection, I shouldn't have been media manager. Actually, one of the subject matter experts in this area would have been more apt for me, I feel. Nevertheless, I have found it an invaluable experience with the dynamic of working with subject matter that, while an area of interest, is not one that I'm specialized in, and working with a geographically dispersed group of people and using digital means alone to communicate and plan.