"...No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;..."
I always get a bit anxious when I know we are going to write in teams, but I always find this experience of co-writing very enriching. Writing is a process that starts in our heads, what and how to write are questions that we answer before even grabbing a pen (or putting a finger on the keyboard). The thing is that when we write in teams, we have to consider other people's whats and hows -not an easy task.
When writitng in teams, compromising is key. Accepting that other point of view, that other way of putting an idea is what makes this process worthy. It opens your head, it widens your perception and it sharpens your sense or appropriacy -if she, that is part of the process, doesn't get it, an outsider won't get it either. Let's change this!-
What's also good about this way of working is that you are not alone. Sometimes we get so stucked in our thoughts, that we fail to see our mistakes or we can't find the correct form of saying something. Working in teams means having someone to rely on, someone at hand to help you see what you have missed.
Every time I work in teams, I take something with me -either a new word, a new strucutre, a new way of seeing things or a funny memory- which, I feel, is the whole idea of struggling to find common grounds.
John Donne.
I chose this quiotation for this topic beacuse in a way it is connected. Just change death for life, and diminish for heighten, and I hope you see it the way I see it.
Well, our first writing assignment is over... I always get a bit anxious when I know we are going to write in teams, but I always find this experience of co-writing very enriching. Writing is a process that starts in our heads, what and how to write are questions that we answer before even grabbing a pen (or putting a finger on the keyboard). The thing is that when we write in teams, we have to consider other people's whats and hows -not an easy task.
When writitng in teams, compromising is key. Accepting that other point of view, that other way of putting an idea is what makes this process worthy. It opens your head, it widens your perception and it sharpens your sense or appropriacy -if she, that is part of the process, doesn't get it, an outsider won't get it either. Let's change this!-
What's also good about this way of working is that you are not alone. Sometimes we get so stucked in our thoughts, that we fail to see our mistakes or we can't find the correct form of saying something. Working in teams means having someone to rely on, someone at hand to help you see what you have missed.
Every time I work in teams, I take something with me -either a new word, a new strucutre, a new way of seeing things or a funny memory- which, I feel, is the whole idea of struggling to find common grounds.
About this specific task, I feel we worked very well together and I'm more than happy with our final version.
I know exaclty what you mean! It is so hard sometimes to put into words what you have in your mind before writing it! I think the most important thing here is to keep an open mind and, as you said, understanding that not everyone will have thought about a particular subject in the same way as you did. What I find the most difficult is to agree on the way ideas will be structured, but once you are past that initial stage, writing can be much easier in groups. And you are right, you always take something new with you, and something that you are likely to remember also, since it comes from a partner.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Yami!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, and with you too, Juli.
I learn so much when working in groups, and I think it's fantastic that we, as future teachers, can learn how to share ideas and value peer work, especially in this field which seems to be quite competitive.
Definitely!!!! Working in group is not an easy task! We tend to think that our ideas are the best ones, and without realizing it, we are underestimating our classmates.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we need some time to learn, as Maga said, to shate idead and value others' opinions.
Listening to each other is the only way out!