Learning Journal #3

The first group work was somehow... interesting. Yes, this is the word: interesting. I found it really interesting to have the opportunity to make our own syllabus; most of the times we don't have a single word to say about what are we going to talk during the year. But it wasn't all easy...

It wasn't a bad group; actually, I really enjoyed working with them (Bernardo, João Machado e João Meira)! We had a lot of ideas, and, the fact is, we talked a lot about the subject of the project, discussing our perspectives, and I must confess that the work itself was being left behind. I usually think that if someone don't have troubles in getting focused, a little laugh or just a light conversation may be a good technique to keep a good atmosphere among the work mates - specially if it is the first time they are working together. Maybe our problem wasn't keeping focused, but a conversation that kept consuming our attention. Probably, this was why we got along and worked so well; before doing the work, we discussed the topic in a general way, and that's a good start.
However, we got our difficulties. Our schedules didn't match, and communication outside the class could be better, just like time management; if we had managed our time in a different way, many things wouldn't be the same. And yes, if the tasks had been divided equally by everyone, it wouldn’t be the same as well. Divided roles are helpful, not just because everyone participates in the group, but as an organization method. But it was the first group work, for the most of us the first with these people, and we’re still adapting. I speak for myself – the first classes were an adaption; we didn’t just changed teacher (in my case), our classmates are also new!

I can’t say for sure that I couldn’t do this work alone… I never tried it! But certainly, within a group, it becomes more interesting (get in contact with new ideas is always nice), easy (4 heads surely work more and better than just one) and fruitful (many ideas together become just one). And we work well as a group, at least in my perspective.
Of course, what didn’t work this time, it’s going to be corrected next time. We are learning continuously.

About the other groups: I truly sorry not being there to listen to your presentations. As a student and colleague, I should have been there and pay attention, just like you were in mine. But this was a new opportunity, and as a member of a group, I should also support my group and help us to achieve our goal (which we did, by the way).
There is always a next time.