Alberto Seara Blog Post #1

 Reflecting on each group’s presentation:

 

Group 1: The Importance of Intercultural Communication:

 

    The presentation of Group 1 deals with how many differences may exist between the members of each group, and how we can deal with them, so that the final result will be successful. 

 

    First of all, emphasis was placed on how each person's culture can affect their way of thinking about certain things and also how their values can make them react to different situations. Also, it was explained about problems or realities that can be experienced in a society where there are many people from different cultures. Something that I really liked about this part is that they used a very good example such as the United States, or even some used a much better one, which is Florida. Considering that we are all here (in Florida), this brought my full attention to what they were saying, and I am sure the same thing happened to all the rest of us. Being in Florida, and living in a society that is practically made up of Latinos and Americans, this makes the example very effective.

 

    Another topic that I really liked that they addressed, and that has to do with the same idea of what I explained before, is about how religion and the way of looking at time can affect, depending on the culture you come from. Regarding the former, I thought it was excellent the use of Tik Tok to provide examples about it. Since the topic of religion can be a bit complicated for some, Tik Tok videos can help viewers better understand the topic through examples, and in a simpler and more accurate way for everyone. On the subject of time, I think it's great that they talked about it, because when you tend to talk about the possible problems one may encounter when working in a group, this is not a very popular one. I could even consider it as one of the most key ones, since it happens a lot when working with people of my age range. Some people think that because the teacher gave us 2 weeks to work in a group, they are going to wait until the last moment to do their part, as they tend to drag out more and more the time to do it, having the idea that there is still a lot of time left to hand it in. 

 

    To conclude about the first group, it seems to me that, beyond the incredible information they provided to the whole class, one of the things that stands out the most about their presentation is the creativity with which they did it. The use of colors that attract the naked eye, the images and videos that help to understand much better what they say and the examples that almost all members provided, makes their project, in my personal opinion, seems to me the most complete of the 3. Also highlight the work of one of the members, Barbara, who not only perfectly mastered the part she explained and used very good examples, but also added comic elements to her explanation, making the presentation much more enjoyable, taking into account all the explanation she was giving.

 

 

Group 2: Communication within Groups

 

    The presentation on Group 2 deals with the different types of groups we may encounter. It also explains the guidelines to follow to make the group as effective as possible, as well as tips/skills to solve problems.

 

    One of the things they emphasized that I liked the most was the benefits of virtual groups, and the different ways of communicating today. They explained how, thanks to many platforms such as Zoom, Meet or Skype you can communicate with people whenever and wherever you want with anyone, no matter how far away they are. This, and what happened because of the pandemic, made teleworking or online conferencing a viable option. It is good that group 2 has decided to add this specifically to their presentation, as this is our reality today, so understanding and explaining it becomes very easy

 

    Another point that I really liked that they talked about is the steps and/or tips they give to achieve group development. From the four steps according to Tuckmann's model (Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing), the characteristics of the performing stage (Harmony, Productivity, Problem Solving, and Shared Leadership), to the strategies to avoid problems in a group; all these make us realize how many things are needed if we want to be as effective as possible. It opens our eyes to something we take for granted that everyone knows, but when it comes down to it, many people lack all or many of the qualities needed when working with people on anything, be it a school project, at work, or in any situation.

 

  In closing about the second group, I thought they did an outstanding job of explaining all the information this chapter had to offer. Even though the presentation was not as attractive because of the colors or the lack of videos as in group 1, the participants managed through their explanation to make the information they were giving simple and easy to understand. 

 

Group 3: Leadership and its Roles/Responsibilities

 

    About my group, I have only positive things to say. I think we all did a very good job explaining each other's topics. Everyone from the first moment was very on top of the work, trying to help us with anything we needed, or if they just wanted an opinion on something. Also, I have to highlight Aliyah's work, who was always aware of our progress with the work and the good introduction and conclusion she made of the presentation, fitting perfectly to the dynamics we were following. Also Valerie, who was in charge of organizing all the slides of the paper, making sure everything was in order, and fixing some small details before presenting it to the class. Last but not least, Katherine, who took the baton as leader, making us organize from the very beginning how we were going to divide everything up, and offering to help whoever needed it.

 

 

Conclusion:

    In conclusion, it only remains for me to say that I really enjoyed doing this project. I feel that all the groups presented our ideas in a clear and precise way, and we addressed all the necessary issues so that we have in mind everything we need to be the best possible work when working in groups. Although there may be many things to remember from all the presentations, we all kept the general idea to follow the established guidelines, to then make sure we are succesful in all the work, not only college, but also the work of a lifetime.