Stacey S Blog Prompt

In this particular blog, I am going to answer several questions that were asked by the professor.  All of these questions have to do with something called a Wiki.  I will discuss my experiences with a wiki and how it relates to group work.

     I have had a pretty amazing experience with using a wiki to do group work.  I had trouble coming up with all the answers to the wiki assignments.  I would probably still be scratching my head had it not been for the help of my classmates.

     My first impression of wiki was a frightening one.  I was very scared to even attempt to try it, Mainly, because anything new in computer technology panics me.  I was uncertain of my ability to grasp the concept and the thought of having everyone see my additions was not reassuring at all.  After using the wiki, I found it to be fairly easy.  I think that it is a fascinating tool and an asset to group work.

     Group work is an important part of higher learning especially in a writing class.  I feel that even the most talented authors have editors.   Students that work together produce better work and learn more by interacting with each other than just with the professor alone.  I had to get over my fear of working with a group.  I have confidence issues but I realized that everyone is just trying to help me become a better writer.  I think that this clearly states the objectives for assigning group work.  You can never stop learning and by expanding your thoughts in a group setting can open your eyes and ears to new things.  I gather helpful information from a group.  For example,  I may have a certain view point on an issue or topic but someone else may share a different viewpoint.  Their view point may be different from mine but it makes me consider what they have said and why.  It prepares us for the real world.  People will always be working in a group.  Being able to work as a team,  allows us as individuals to be better team players and excel in the real world.

     Group work has it challenges and rewards.  It is rewarding to work in  a group because it breaks down certain tasks into pieces.  It saves time, because the work load individually could take longer to complete.    It will reduce stress and the pressure to do the assignments by yourself.  Rewards do come with some challenges.  You may have a team player that is not doing there fair share of the resposibilites.   Another challenging issue could be finding a certain time of day in everyones already busy lives to gather together.  It does help to have email because the task could be broke down into individuals sections that allows them to be completed at different times but also completed by the deadline.

 Stacey S.