Communication Outside the Classroom

For another one of my classes, I have to complete an out of class assignment with a small group of 4 people. When I began this project, I really took into account what I had learned through Communication 320. We are just now starting our final design for our poster and presentation. One of the first challenges we overcame was tardiness. Com 320 taught me that I need to set ground rules before starting to work with a group. Once our food science group laid out the rules, we had very little trouble with members being late again. This sounds like just a small peice of advice, but it has really helped my group from another class succeed.
Audrie-8

Creativity Workshop

This week we participated in several creativity workshops to meet certain objectives set by the groups who conducted them. They were a lot of fun, but also a good learning experience when participating in the COM 320 environment. Like the other groups, our group also had to conduct a creativity workshop. We wanted to do something different than the first groups, but my initial ideas were like theirs since I had experience with a club in high school that practices building things out of materials with certain stipulations. Lamon came up with a great idea during our group meeting on Tuesday night of doing the crime scene investigation workshop. It was an idea that stemmed off another activity. We took a couple of ideas from that activity and added many of our own to create something new. I thought it was a great success in class. We asked each group to come up the crime when presented with evidence. It was quite interesting to see what kind of stories the groups created, and many were very funny. I think they used their imagination that day in a way they weren't expecting, and they really enjoyed participating.
-Marcus

Creativity Workshop

This week in class, All of the groups given a task to develop a creativity workshop and teach it to the entire class. Each group's creativity workshop presentation taught the class various methods and techniques using communication within small groups. The first group taught the class how to build a well structured foundation, making it as creative as possible with very littler resources. In this activity our group had to agree on how many material we were going to use, how we were going to use them, how creative and tall the structure should be. Even though our group came in last with a very creative structure because we were cheated, I enjoy this creative workshop and felt that is was very useful and could be used in the business world. Our group communicated quite well which allowed us to complete our activity. Each group member listened to one another, not interrupting and being disruptive. We brainstormed and put all of our ideas together and eliminated the ideas that we found less imperative to our success.

-Julian Stevens-

Creative Project

This week was a very creative week in class, I say that because each group had to come up with a creative project for the class to do. My group decided to create a Crime Investation project. In which we have each group a lead to a case (a problem) and we provided each group with pictures taking from the crime scene. With the pictures each group had to work as a group to Solve the problem/mystery to who or what caused the crime. Each had to create a story out of the pictures and the little lead that we gave them. To sum it up, each group did a great job with their stories they were all funny. This was a task well done.

LaMon Lacey

Creativity Workshop

Last Friday's class, the first group completed their service learning project and creativity workshop. We divided into teams to build a structure with cans. Surprisingly, our group worked very well together. Once we were given our task, we began brainstorming ideas to build. Even though, we had never really worked together since my group did not show up until later, our food castle looked great. Every person gave their input and did not interrupt others while speaking. It was even my idea to add the castle wall. I think since we all were educated on small group communication skills, we were able to work well together in the end. I think the group did a great job of combining most of the activities. I hope when our group does our creativity workshop it will turn out just as well.

Audrie-7

Lafayette Urban Ministry

Our group project is finally complete and a huge success. I am very excited that it is not only finished, but everything had fun. The project began when I put on my ballerina costume. When we arrived at First Presbyterian Church, we were given the set of rules and a tour. We set up the snacks and waited for the kids to arrive. Once they got there it took around 15 minutes for the kids to change into their costumes. They all sat in a circle, and we distributed snacks. I learned quickly the way to handle this bunch was to be assertive. Snack time was over, and then it was time for the team building exercises. We split into two groups. We played popcorn and hot chocolate river. After about a half hour a play, we then turned to their all-time favorite...hide and go seek. We hid candy around the entire building so their first task was to find it. Then we paired up and played two rounds of all building tag. We had only a half hour left so we wanted to keep the kids in the main gym. As requested, we played duck, duck, goose. I lost twice to a five and seven year old but still had fun. Soon the parents came to get their children, and our project was done.

One of the problems that occurred was trying to keep the children quite. With the help of the volunteers, they stayed in line. Some of them also became very attached to us. They did not want to spit up when it was time to. It is no easy to rationalize with a child, but we worked our magic. In the end, we knew we had to be firm and fun at the same time. I would volunteer for LUM again in the future.

Audrie-6

The Pieces to the Puxxle

This week during lecture, the puxxle activity allowed each group to let loose. I believe this exercise was fairly productive. At some times it started to move out of the necessity of making the class better and into a joke session. Though I do believe that a laughter and a laid back atmosphere allows for creativity. This was a positive exercise that allowed each member of the class to voice an opinion. Rarely do you see classes that encompass this within their class structure. I also liked the fact that feedback was asking during the semester rather than at the absolute end. I never did see a point in asking someone’s views at the end in a survey, this is more of a teacher bashing rather than anything productive. The puxxle exercise brought that classroom together for the period and allowed everyone to input and design constructive criticism in order to better the class. This is a feature that is seen many corporations. Google is a company that uses this as a cornerstone for their organization. Google allows their employees input their suggestions to better their company on a daily basis. In order to get the most productivity out of any individual, their ideas most be heard. Rather than just a team building exercise, I believe this was a classroom building exercise, which is rarely seen here on campus.

~Jeff